Mirror with geometric decoration

Historical period(s)
Late Eastern Zhou, Warring States, or early Western Han dynasty, 3rd-2nd century BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam x D: 19.1 x 1.2 cm (7 1/2 x 1/2 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1944.9
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Mirror
Type

Mirror

Keywords
casting, China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 - 221 BCE), Warring States period (475 - 221 BCE), Western Han dynasty (206 BCE - 9 CE), WWII-era provenance
Provenance

Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941), New York and "The Chimneys," Sands Point, Port Washington, Long Island [1]

From at least 1944
Tonying and Company, New York, New York from at least February 1944 [2]

From 1944
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Tonying and Company, New York on February 7, 1944 [3]

Notes:

[1] According to information provided by Tonying & Company, see Tonying and Company’s invoice, dated February 7, 1944, copy in object file.

[2] See Tonying & Company’s invoice, dated February 7, 1944, in which the mirror figures under no. B. 156: “Cricular Bronze Mirror, with design of Sun and Sunray; beautiful green patina / Chin,” copy in object file. The acquisition was approved by C. G. Abbot, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, on February 4, 1944, see “List of Objects Contemplated for Purchase by the Freer Gallery of Art,” copy in object file.

[3] See invoice cited in note 2. See also A. G. Wenley’s letter to C. F. Yau, Tonying & Co., dated February 5, 1944, in which Wenley confirms the purchase of the mirror along with seven other mirrors from the Holmes collection (see records for F1944.3-F1944.8, F1944.10).

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Mrs. Christian R. Holmes 1871-1941
Tonying and Company established 1902

Label

The main decorative zone of this mirror contains a design of joined arcs set against a background of fine tracery. Marks from the clay mold in which the mirror was cast are visible around the central boss. Transition lines from the stamps used to produce the mold are visible in the tracery background.

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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