Chapter 0629 – Bronze Mirror (II)

Mirror in the reflection at the same time, is also has the effect of concentrating light, irradiated in the wall beam, obviously to be much brighter than the head of the light bulb, just in that beam of light, Zhuang Rui vaguely seem to see a little something.

Zhuang Rui fixed his mind, body to the wall a few steps closer, and then picked up the mirror, the mirror surface slightly side, a beam of light and then reflected back to the wall, this time Zhuang Rui’s hand did not shake, he really from the mass of only palm-sized beam of light, see a hint of influence.

In that mass of light beam, Zhuang Rui saw a bodhisattva lotus sitting pattern, head pulled high sideburns of Guanyin bodhisattva sash fluttering, serene sitting on a lotus base, holding a vase, face kind, eyes slightly closed, a look of sadness and compassionate compassionate look.

This pattern is not very clear, just when Zhuang Rui was in a stirring mood and his hand shook slightly, the picture of Guanyin disappeared with it.

“How is this …… this possible?”

Zhuang Rui exclaimed in his heart, he had never heard that it was possible to display patterns in a bronze mirror? When he himself looked at the mirror just now, he didn’t find anything ah?

Zhuang Rui immediately will copper mirror reversed, to the mirror surface carefully observed up, but found that this mirror surface smooth and incomparable, and there is no what Guanyin pattern, but …… that the image appeared on the wall, Zhuang Rui can also confirm that it is absolutely not their own illusion.

After a deep breath, Zhuang Rui quieted his mind, gazing at the mirror, as the aura penetrated into the bronze mirror, a strange feeling rose in Zhuang Rui’s heart.

Just at the instant the aura entered the mirror, Zhuang Rui felt that the copper mirror seemed to come to life, the original subtle grinding texture on the mirror surface, in Zhuang Rui’s eyes was infinitely enlarged.

Zhuang Rui found that these textures were all slightly different in terms of depth, it should be these differences that made it appear as that image of Guanyin Bodhisattva under the reflection of the light, although he had never heard of this matter, Zhuang Rui felt that he should have found an extraordinary treasure.

Bronze mirror is an ancient mirror made of copper, also known as bronze mirror, in ancient times, people use water to illuminate the face, after the invention of bronze, copper basin with water to identify the shape of the shadow.

In the “Shangshu”, “Guoyu”, “Zhuangzi” and other pre-Qin writings, mentioned the ancients “in view of the water”. And the ancient language interpretation “Jian” word meaning “basin” can therefore be said to hold water basin (Jian), is the earliest mirror.

With the emergence of alloy technology, from the Yin and Shang dynasties, there is the use of copper and tin or silver lead and other production of copper mirrors, copper mirrors are generally made of round or square, the back of the casting of inscriptions decorated with patterns, and accompanied by knobs in order to wear the system, the front of the lead and tin sharpened bright, can be clearly illuminated face.

Shang, Western Zhou and the Spring and Autumn period of the bronze mirror, in the Chinese archaeology have sporadic discovery, and to the Warring States began to flourish, the production increased greatly.

To the Han Dynasty, due to the large number of daily life needs, coupled with the rapid economic prosperity after the middle of the Western Han Dynasty, copper mirror production has produced a qualitative leap, the production of copper mirror craftsmanship, heavy texture, mirror back inscriptions, patterns rich and varied. After the Tang and Song dynasties two development peak.

Has continued to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with the birth of modern glass, copper mirror gradually faded from the stage of history.

In ancient times, copper mirror and people’s daily life has a close relationship, is indispensable to people’s living utensils, but also exquisite handicrafts, and now some of the big museums in the collection of copper mirrors, are well-produced, beautiful form, gorgeous patterns, rich inscriptions, is China’s ancient cultural heritage in the treasures.

Spring and Autumn and Warring States period in the history of the development of ancient Chinese copper mirror is a mature and great development of the period, is the ancient Chinese copper mirror from the childish simplicity to the maturity of the transitional stage, but also the casting center of the mirror, from the north began to migrate to the south of the important period.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period, copper mirrors had a rapid and comprehensive development on the basis of the three generations (Xia, Shang and Zhou). Both the casting process of bronze mirrors, or the number of casting, are greatly exceeded before.

And to the Qin and Han Dynasties, the largest number of copper mirrors unearthed, the use of universal, Han mirror not only in the number of more than the Warring States period, but also in the form of production and artistic expression of a great development.

As for the Sui and Tang Dynasty bronze mirrors, compared with the previous generation has a new development. In the copper alloy increased the tin content, in the texture of the copper mirror will appear silver, both beautiful and applicable.

By the time of the Song, Jin and Yuan, the production process of copper mirrors there is no big breakthrough, most of the continuation of the style of the Han and Tang Dynasty, just more than a few historical stories such as copper mirrors.

In recent years, the collection of copper mirrors is also increasing, the price is rising year by year, a good quality of the Han and Tang Dynasty copper mirror, shot a million of the sky is normal, and some of the inheritance of the mirror, but also in the ten million or more.

If anyone can find the two halves of the mirror in the story, I’m afraid that the story background alone, its value is inestimable.

According to the history of the development of copper mirror, Zhuang Rui can almost conclude that this piece of copper mirror should definitely be the Sui and Tang dynasties, the reason is very simple, Buddhism is from the end of the Han Dynasty after the Five Dynasties into China, and in the Sui and Tang dynasties have been developed.

Can the goddess of mercy buddha statue, so painstakingly with copper mirror grinding pattern performance, I’m afraid that in addition to the prevalence of buddhism in the sui and tang dynasties, no one will spend so much effort.

Just Zhuang Rui do not know this piece of copper mirror can be said to be a rare treasure, why it will fall into the foreign country? And for so many years, it has not been discovered the mystery of it.

“Running abroad to poke around in your own country’s treasures.”

Zhuang Rui smiled to himself, although from the preservation of cultural relics, those Dunhuang scrolls and the copper mirror in front of him, stay abroad may not be able to save better, because in that decade of turmoil in the country, do not know how many cultural relics into ashes.

But psychologically speaking, Zhuang Rui would rather collect those treasures in foreign museums to be burned to the ground, but also not willing to see the development of their own national civilization from other countries, because that is a kind of speechless mockery, hinting at the shame that China endured a hundred years ago.

“This piece of metal and iron, what price?”

Zhuang Rui shook his head, and after retrieving his thoughts, he held the bronze mirror and raised it to Reno, he was bullying Reno for not knowing this stuff, and deliberately referred to the bronze mirror as a piece of metal iron.

“Oh no, this gentleman, this is a mirror from your country! In our country, there are also mirrors like this made of metal that are very expensive, definitely not iron pieces.”

Zhuang Rui didn’t think that Reynolds still knew a little bit about this stuff, but listening to his voice, the understanding wasn’t much, so he said at once, “Just think of it as a mirror, but can you illuminate yourself from inside the mirror?”

Zhuang Rui’s words let Renault a little speechless, that bronze mirror although smooth, but due to oxidation, the mirror becomes a little fuzzy, at most can only illuminate a silhouette, and those foreign sixteenth and seventeenth century production of the metal mirror, there is indeed a big difference.

To be honest, foreign definition of art, in addition to painting and calligraphy, is very concerned about the practical value, and this piece of copper mirror back rust, mirror surface blurred, one has no artistic appreciation value, two have no practical value, placed in the room are out of place, Renault really can’t find words to refute Zhuang Rui.

“Mr. Renault, if you think of it as a treasure, it’s better to keep it for yourself!”

Zhuang Rui saw Reynolds standing there with a hesitant face, so he threw the bronze mirror in his hand on the table, of course, not the mirror face up, because Zhuang Rui was afraid of destroying the grinding pattern of that Guanyin statue.

“2000 Euros, if you can offer this price, I will sell it to you.”

Reynolds gritted his teeth and said a price that was higher in his heart.

“2000 Euros?”

Zhuang Rui frowned slightly, 2000 euros was about twenty thousand RMB, not to mention the arcane in the mirror, just in terms of the quality of this bronze mirror, it was slightly expensive.

“Let’s put it this way! If you can tell me the origin of this copper mirror, the price of 2000 euros, I think I can still accept it.”

Zhuang Rui asked this, because he wanted to know the provenance of this piece of copper mirror, to see if he could judge the provenance of this piece of copper mirror from it.

Because this piece of copper mirror was really too rare, to be able to grind a statue of Goddess of Mercy out of the mirror without being able to observe it with the naked eye, this was definitely not something that ordinary people could do.

After hearing Zhuang Rui’s words, Reynolds shook his head and said, “I’m sorry sir, this thing was collected by my grandfather and has always been placed here, but I seem to have heard him say that this stone statue came with the bronze mirror.”

Zhuang Rui was a little disappointed in his heart, according to Reynolds, it was highly likely that this was something that those sub bandits, back then, had snatched from one of the temples in China, because monks had to use mirrors as well! Maybe this thing is the monk in the temple to find skilled craftsmen to make.

Just that the Buddha head is really broken too much, Zhuang Rui has no way to find out any traces from it, and there are so many temples in China, he is also not able to query the Buddha head from which temple.

Shake his head helplessly, Zhuang Rui from the handbag out of 2000 euros, handed to Renault, and then the bronze mirror carefully placed in the bag, and in the mirror wrapped several layers of tissue paper, for fear that the mirror was damaged.

After the transaction was completed, Reynolds also learned the name of Zhuang Rui, saw Zhuang Rui kept measuring the Buddha head, spoke out and said, “Mr. Zhuang, don’t you want this Buddha head?”

“Oh no, I’m not interested in that, but can I take a few pictures? Maybe I can introduce it to a friend who likes it.”

The aura in that Buddha’s head was already very thin, plus there was nothing to be seen from its appearance, it was pretty much just a piece of broken stone, Zhuang Rui couldn’t look at this thing.

“Mr. Reynolds, may I ask if you don’t have any oil paintings or other works of art here?”

After coming for half a day, the object received is still from his own country, Zhuang Rui’s heart is a bit unwilling.