This bronze mirror comes from the Robert E. Haynes collection and was acquired in Japan.  Stylistically it resembles the latest Han and Three Kingdoms period mirrors made on the continent in the 3rd and 4th centuries.  The bronze is white bronze (hakudo).  The design is a hybrid of several popular motifs - TLV (in this case only the T's are shown), scroll-work and animalistic.  However, the animalistic motif is characteristically Japanese, depicting small stylized birds.  They look most like plump little chidori, and do not resemble continental bird motifs.  Such bird motifs commonly adorn mirrors removed from Kofun dating to the middle 4th century.  In particular, the Tenjin Yama tumulus contained mirrors with virtually identical bird motifs.  It is unknown if they were made by Japanese craftsmen, but it is likely that they were in fact products of Chinese artisans domiciled in Japan, serving one of the powerful early clans.

Kofun period, 4th c.

9.5 cm and 0.5 cm at rim.  1cm at central boss.

Other items from the Robert E. Haynes collection

 

SALE $1200