【藏品名稱】：湖城薛惠公造方形銅鏡
[collection name]: square bronze mirror made by Xue Huigong in Hucheng
【藏品數量】：一件
[collection quantity]: one piece
【藏品簡介】：薛惠公，名晉候，字惠公，號苕溪，清乾隆時人，以鑄鏡素有佳名。據說他本是杭州人，因為湖州水好，故遷居此地鑄鏡，并開有一家薛惠公老店。薛家是鑄鏡世家，明清時期，以所做銅鏡鑄造精良、品質上乘而聲名遠播，而薛惠公更是薛家之登峰造極者，其所制銅鏡形式多樣，當地傳世鏡中質量較高者大多都有“薛惠公”的名號。但再高的制鏡技藝也已經無法挽回銅鏡的沒落了。到清代中期，隨著玻璃鏡的逐漸普及，傳統的銅鏡制造業日漸萎縮，走到末路，至民國時期已經基本退出了歷史舞臺
[introduction to collection]: Xue Huigong, who was named Marquis of Jin Dynasty and named as Huigong, was born in Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty. He had a good name for casting mirror. It is said that he was originally from Hangzhou. Because of the good water in Huzhou, he moved here to cast mirrors and opened an old shop of Xue Huigong. The Xue family is a mirror casting family. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, they were famous for their excellent casting and high quality. Xue Huigong was the best of the Xue family. His bronze mirrors were made in various forms. Most of the local handed down mirrors with high quality were named "Xue Huigong". However, no matter how high the mirror making skills are, the decline of bronze mirrors can no longer be retrieved. By the middle of Qing Dynasty, with the gradual popularization of glass mirrors, the traditional bronze mirror manufacturing industry was gradually shrinking and came to an end. By the time of the Republic of China, it had basically withdrawn from the historical stage
此面銅鏡為方形（如圖），邊長為8厘米、厚0.35厘米。黑褐色自然氧化包漿，點狀綠銹點綴其中。惜右上左下角有孔殘缺，無鈕，素寬緣。上書‘既虛其中，亦方其外；一塵不染，萬物皆備。’十六字富含哲理。落款為‘湖城薛惠公造。’湖城即現在湖州。薛惠公，名晉侯，字惠公，清乾隆時人。薛家是鑄鏡世家，明清時以所鑄銅鏡鑄造精良、品質上乘而名聞朝野，到薛惠公時更是登峰造極。據史載，其時薛惠公鏡為朝廷的貢鏡。
The mirror is square (as shown in the picture), 8 cm long and 0.35 cm thick. Black brown natural oxidation coating, dotted with green rust. Unfortunately, there is a hole in the upper right and lower left corner, no button, plain wide margin. "It's not only empty, but also just outside; Everything is spotless. " Sixteen words are rich in philosophy. The signature is "made by Xue Huigong in Hucheng." Hucheng is now Huzhou. Xue Huigong, named Marquis of Jin Dynasty, was born in Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty. The Xue family is a mirror casting family. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, they were famous for their excellent casting and high-quality bronze mirrors. In the reign of Xue Huigong, they reached the peak. According to historical records, Xue Huigong's mirror was a tribute mirror of the imperial court at that time.
此鏡名不虛傳，它鑄造精良，文字規整、清晰、深竣，保存品相很好，不愧為一方難得好鏡！由于目前市場存世量稀少，加之是絕版，保存完整的也不多，因此薛惠公款方形銅鏡歷史價值不菲，正所謂物以稀為貴，這也必定受眾多雜項收藏家們的極大追捧。一直以來都是大收藏家夢寐以求的，劉益謙曾說，對于這種極具收藏價值的藏品，收集到便是緣分，福氣。因為真品存世量是極為稀少的，一直都是拍賣場上一大熱門。
This mirror is well-known for its excellent casting, regular, clear and deep writing, and well preserved appearance! Due to the scarcity of the market and the fact that it is out of print, Xue Hui's public square bronze mirror is of great historical value. It is said that the rarity is the most precious, which must be greatly sought after by many collectors. It has always been the dream of big collectors. Liu Yiqian once said that for this collection with great collection value, it is fate and blessing to collect it. Because the quantity of authentic products is extremely rare, it has always been a hot spot in the auction house.
