6.2 cm. diam.

The exquisitely cast and elaborately inlaid Gold Mirror （Yang Sui） for Ignition of Fire from the Warring States period. The round mirror has a knob formed by a jade disc that is wedged between a symmetrical pair of protruding animal masks with glass eyes. Against a granulated ground and circumscribed by a rope-patterned rim band，the back is decorated with coiled serpents in relief that are inlaid with commas of green glass，some of which are lost. The undecorated and concave surface of the mirror is finely polished. Predominantly cast in bronze，this specimen in gold is extremely rare. The material and the craftsmanship all suggest that it used to be a ritual object reserved for the most privileged._x000D_
The ignition mirror was used as a lighting device in antiquity. From the many references about mirrors in Chinese literature，it is known that it was usually made of bronze and was used to focus sunlight for starting a fire. According to Rites of the Zhou （Zhouli），divination required a naked fire that was made with the ignition mirror. In the Han dynasty，it became one of the 30 must-have betrothal gifts. Because of its special function，the ignition mirror was regarded as a miraculous object that facilitates communion with the deities besides garnering good fortune and warding off evil.

Price estimate:
HKD：800,000-2,000,000
USD：103,200-258,100

Auction Result:
HKD : 3,068,000