Two bronze mirrors, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD).
For condition report contact specialist
The first mirror in the so called TLV group with a central square surrounding the nob for the string. Diameter 15.9 cm. Silvered. With a fitted box clad in blue. Measure 19.5x19.5 cm.
The second mirror round with a small central nob. Diameter 14.5 cm. With fitted box with blue lining. Silvered. Measure 19x19 cm.
Broken, green encrustation, tarnish.
Provenance
From the Collection of Axel Lagrelius (1863-1944). Thence by descent within the family. Axel was a Swedish chemical engineer, business leader and art collector.
Lagrelius sponsored several scientific expeditions, such as Alfred Nathorst to Spitsbergen in 1898, Greenland 1899, and Otto Nordenskjold expedition to the South Pole 1902-1904, continuously Johan Gunnar Anderssons Expeditions in China from 1916, onwards. He held several honorary titles and was from 1907 In 1907 appointed superintendent of the court.
In 1926 he accompanied the crown prince of Sweden on his journey to China, where he got the honorary title of a mandarin of the court. He was one of the founding members of the China Committee and one of the investors in the Karlbeck syndicate that purchased Chinese Works of Art in China through Orvar Karlbeck 1928-1932.
Exhibitions
The black and white image taken when Lagrelius visited China with the Crown Prince in 1926.
From the top left, no 1 O. Nordqvist, 2, 3, 4 Erik Nyström, 5, 6, 7.
From the lower left, no 3 Mr Everlöf, no 4. Crown Princess Louise Mountbatten, No 5. H.R.H. Crown Prins Gustav Adolf (later King Gustav VI Adolf), no 6 Mrs Rudebäck, no 7 Mr Rudebäck, no 8 Axel Lagrelius, 9 Johan Gunnar Andersson.
Literature
Karlbeck Konsortiet, 1930-31. Compare with another mirror like this that he purchased, listed as lot no 222.