Qing Dynasty Gilt Bronze Qilin Base Twelve Zodiac Imperial Seal Set, Qing Dynasty (17th–19th Century)

拍品描述

Dimensions：Base Overall Height 15 cm (5.91 in), Base Length & Width 15.2 cm (5.98 in), Total Weight 5100g, Qing imperial gilt bronze seals (Bronze, circulated in California)Condition & Provenance：The complete set including main base, central qilin finial and twelve zodiac mini seals is fully intact with no missing or broken pieces. Thick original gilding covers the whole set with even natural wear, no large-scale gold loss or aftermarket regilding repairs. Three-dimensional details including qilin scales and spiral manes are undamaged without chips or cracks. The Tibetan script carved on the base sidewalls remains deep and crisp, while the Han and Manchu seal script on the main seal face is perfectly preserved, free of re-carving, solder patching or acid artificial patina. Only minor faint surface abrasion from centuries of collection circulation exists. Classified as important imperial gilt bronze artwork, this treasure circulated through California, USA, previously collected by a private imperial artifact collector based in San Francisco, California. It is accompanied by appraisal documents from the Toronto Society of Asian Metal Arts and lab analysis certification for Qing gilt bronze alloys, with no aftermarket replacement zodiac seals, secondary gilding or altered seal characters.Description：This full Qing gilt bronze qilin twelve zodiac seal set stands as an extraordinarily rare intact imperial archival treasure, commanding extraordinary prestige among collectors of East Asian ancient bronzes across North America and widely coveted by imperial artifact connoisseurs in New York and Texas. The ensemble consists of a monumental stepped square base, a central seated gilt qilin sculpture, and twelve individual square seals topped with each Chinese zodiac animal, constructed on a grand, ritual royal scale. The heavy square base bears neatly arranged lines of carved Tibetan script along its vertical walls, etched with bold, forceful carving strokes. Tiered stepped recesses cover the top surface, precisely engineered to hold each small zodiac seal with seamless structural design. At the center of the base rests a towering gilt auspicious qilin beast, its body covered in fine overlapping carved scales, layered spiral manes, a dragon head paired with quadruped limbs and a fish tail, blending traditional Han auspicious animal iconography with Tibetan Buddhist symbolic sculpture, finished in soft, aged natural gilded luster. The twelve miniature seals each feature vivid, lifelike solid cast finials of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig, uniformly sized with expressive realistic carving. The underside of the large main seal bears raised seal script Chinese characters “Treasure of the Son of Heaven” paired with parallel Manchu script, executed in elegant flowing calligraphy characteristic of official Qing imperial seals. Cast from solid refined bronze with heavy fire gilding, the piece integrates four elite ancient crafts: bronze founding, deep relief carving, mercury gilding and epigraphic seal cutting. Fully intact complete zodiac seal sets dating to the Qing imperial court are extremely scarce on today’s antique market. Most comparable surviving artifacts suffer missing zodiac components, severe flaking gilding or cracked restored bases. This complete well-preserved set delivers irreplaceable research value for Qing royal ritual systems, cross-cultural linguistic study of Han, Manchu and Tibetan scripts, and profound aesthetic appreciation of traditional Chinese gilded metal craft. It is ideal for long-term special permanent exhibitions at Asian bronze museums in California and New York, high-end overseas private collections of Chinese imperial relics, and central display in classical Chinese palatial spaces and Tibetan-style clubs to embody the solemn ritual grandeur of ancient imperial authority.

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