A RARE 'PHOENIX' BRONZE MIRROR, SONG DYNASTY China, 960-1279. Of circular form, the central knob (or tang) surrounded by a petal shaped border with low bosses, encircled by a pair of phoenixes neatly cast in thread relief below the outer rim.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986), thence by descent. Old inventory labels to the mirror and box. A copy of an old handwritten note from Dr. Walter Rieder, dating the piece to the Song dynasty and describing the birds as two phoenixes, accompanies this lot. 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: Good condition, commensurate with age, presenting exceptionally well. Few nicks, minor losses, light surface scratches. Fine, naturally grown patina with malachite encrustation.

Weight: 212.5 g
Dimensions: Diameter 14.7 cm

With an old silk storage box. (2)

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related bronze mirror with a phoenix motif in Chinese Bronze Mirrors, A Study Based on the Todd Collection of 1,000 Bronze Mirrors Found in the Five Northern Provinces, Milan Rupert and O. J. Todd, Peiping, San Yu Press, China 1935, nr. 305. Compare another related bronze mirror with a phoenix motif, dated to the Song dynasty, in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1994,0129.8.



宋代罕見鳳凰紋銅鏡
中國，960-1279年。圓鏡，中央團花座鈕，浮雕一對鳳凰紋。

來源：Dr. Walter Rieder (1890-1986)舊藏，在同一家族保存至今。鏡盒與鏡子上有舊標籤。隨附一份Dr. Walter Rieder 手寫的關於年代和描述的文件副本。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：品相良好，與年代相符。少量刻痕，輕微磨損和表面劃痕。天然細膩的包漿，綠色銅鏽。

重量：212.5 克
尺寸：直徑14.7 厘米

絹面盒子。

文獻比較：
比較一件非常相近的鳳凰紋銅鏡，見Milan Rupert，O. J. Todd，《Chinese Bronze Mirrors，A Study Based on the Todd Collection of 1,000 Bronze Mirrors Found in the Five Northern Provinces》，北平，San Yu Press，1935年，編號305。比較一件相近宋代銅鏡，收藏於大英博物館，編號1994,0129.8