The circular mirror with a central domed knob encircled by six alternating floral and celestial animal roundels amidst foliated arabesques, surrounded by a band enclosing inscriptions in between inclined bands of hachured lines, sawtooth patterns and stylised clouds, the bronze mottle with areas of green patina.
During the Sui dynasty, designs such as flowers and running auspicious animals such as the suanni, became established. Mirrors with an inclined edge and saw-tooth motif frequently encompass two rows of saw-tooth pattern. It is also interesting to note that the knob tend to be smaller than their Han counterparts and are often hemispherical with a hole. Compare with a circular mirror featuring a very similar decorative motif and inscriptions dated to the Sui dynasty from the David H. Graham Jr. Collection, illustrated in Bronze mirrors from ancient China, Cat no.70 (M24), pp.198-199.
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