A 'MYTHICAL BEASTS' BRONZE MIRROR, HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC to 220 AD. The central pierced knob set within concentric circles enclosing a band of small bosses, surrounded by various mythical beasts and six larger bosses, encircled by a narrow inscribed band, all within concentric zigzag and wave bands.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986), thence by descent. Old inventory labels to the mirror and wood repository. Dr. Walter Rieder served in the Swiss East Asia Mission (SOAM) in Qingdao, Shandong Province, between October 1930 and December 1951. The mission specialized in educational, literary, and philanthropic work and Dr. Rieder was in fact, not a theologian or missionary, but a teacher of mathematics, physics, and science to high school students attached to the SOAM. His guiding principles were 'Creating understanding between different cultures' and 'Building bridges between East and West'. While in Qingdao, Dr. Rieder collected a wide variety of Chinese art. The objects in the collection thus offer a unique window into the type of antiques that were on the market in Qingdao in the second quarter of the 20th century. As well as demonstrating his passion for Chinese art, his collection also reveals the personal friendships Dr. Rieder forged with local artists, some of whom he knew from his teaching activities. Dr. Rieder had a scholarly approach to studying his collection. Alongside many of his objects, meticulous notes can sometimes be found detailing his art historical commentaries. The collection was hence Dr. Rieder's gateway to the history and culture of China. Objects from the collection were exhibited at the Kunsthaus in Interlaken, Switzerland in 2006 and 2018.
Condition: Superb condition, unusually well preserved given its high age. Some wear, minor corrosion, small nicks, light scratches. One small dent to the rim with associated minor touchup. Naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 879.5 g
Dimensions: Diameter 17.1 cm

With a fitted wood repository. (2)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 14 September 2012, lot 1248
Price: USD 18,750 or approx. EUR 22,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A bronze mirror, Eastern Han dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related figural depictions in the central band. Note the size (21.3 cm).



漢代瑞獸銅鏡
中國，公元前206年至公元 220年。中央圓鈕，圍繞著六隻瑞獸，由六圓珠分隔。外圈不同紋飾帶。

來源：Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986)舊藏，在同一家族保存至今。Dr. Walter Rieder 1930 年 10 月至 1951 年 12 月間在山東青島的瑞士東亞傳道部 (SOAM) 任職。該傳道部專門從事教育、文學和慈善工作，而Rieder博士實際上不是神學家或傳教士，而是一位SOAM 附屬高中的數學、物理和科學教師。他的教育原則是“在不同文化之間建立理解”和“在東西方之間架起橋樑”。在青島期間，Rieder博士收藏了種類繁多的中國藝術品。收藏中的物品為了解二十世紀下半葉青島的古玩類型提供了一個獨特的窗口。他的收藏除了展現他對中國藝術的熱情外，還可從中看出Rieder博士與當地藝術家建立的個人友誼，其中一些藝術家是他從教學活動中認識的。 Rieder 博士採用學術方法研究他的收藏。除了他的許多藏品外，有時還可以找到細緻的筆記，詳細介紹其藝術發展史。因此，其收藏成為 Rieder 博士了解中國歷史和文化的窗口。他的收藏曾於 2006 年和 2018年 年在瑞士因特拉肯美術館館展出。品相：狀況極佳，一些磨損、輕微腐蝕區域、小劃痕。邊緣有一個小凹痕，並有相應的輕微修飾。有包漿。

重量：879.5 克
尺寸：直徑17.1 厘米

相配木盒。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2012年9月14日，lot 1248
價格：USD 18,750（相當於今日EUR 22,500）
描述：東漢銅鏡
專家評論：比較相近中心環帶裝飾。請注意尺寸 (21.3 厘米)。