little mirror - Jade, Silvered bronze - China - Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

Ancient mirror made in traditional Chinese style, characterized by the use of precious materials finely worked.
The object consists of three main parts:
• The upper plaque (oval) is the most elaborate part, consisting of a large carved panel in white or celadon jade finely openwork (perforated). The decorative motifs seem to depict intertwined natural elements typical of Chinese dynastic art, such as phoenixes, dragons or flowering branches, symbolizing good fortune and nobility. The plaque is set within a fluted metal mounting.
The junction between the oval head and the handle is decorated with a stamped metal ring (likely silver or silvered bronze) with raised geometric and floral motifs.
The handle is straight, smooth and polished, carved from a single piece of pale green jade (jadeite or nephrite) with translucent nuances ranging from milk white to apple green.
In Chinese antiquities, mirrors with this specific structure are almost always “toilet” objects assembled during the late Qing dynasty for the aristocracy or for the luxury goods market. However, there is a crucial technical peculiarity that collectors and auction houses often encounter:
• Reuse of the plaque: very frequently, the white jade oval plaque carved in relief is older than the mounting itself. It was originally created as a belt buckle or as an ornament for hairstyles (sometimes dating back to the previous Ming Dynasty or the early Qing Dynasty).
• The later assembly: towards the end of the 19th century, these valuable ancient plaques were disassembled and mounted in new silver settings to produce refined hand mirrors, pairing them with handles carved from pre-existing sculptures (such as dragon-shaped belt hooks or sections of Ruyi scepters).
The art of jade carving in China was never purely aesthetic; every motif contained a visual blessing (a rebus or homophonic meaning). The carving of this specific plaque belongs to the traditional decorative category known as “Chunshui” (Spring Water), a theme born with the Liao/Jin dynasties and handed down through the following centuries:
• The Phoenix (Fenghuang) or the Crane among the Lotuses: Within the dense perforated interlacing there are aquatic or mythical birds moving among sinuous lotus stems.
• The Lotus (Lian) evokes spiritual purity, since it rises from the mud yet blooms immaculate, and is a symbol of harmony and continuous union.
• The Bird (Egret or Phoenix) symbolizes elegance, feminine grace and resilience.
• Blessing of Integrity and Longevity: The combination of birds and aquatic vegetation expressed the wish “may your career and your life flow smooth and pure as spring water.”
Being an object destined for the ladies’ chambers of the court (the gonggui), it also symbolized conjugal fidelity and the purity of the noblewoman who owned it.
Dimensions: 16 cm x 5.8 cm x 1.5 cm and weighs 101 g
Intact except for signs of time
Shipped with insured delivery in professional packing