Bronze Rectangular Seal with Characters “Tian Li Nian”,Yuan Dynasty,13th‑14th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions:Length 5.8 cm (2.28 in),Width 3 cm (1.18 in),Weight 32g,Yuan Dynasty,13th‑14th CenturyCondition & Provenance:The bronze seal is fully intact,no breakage,missing sections or modern repairs.The loop knob on reverse is solid and original without re‑welding.The three‑character inscription “Tian Li Nian” is cast in relief with sharp definition,interior of characters retains original ancient reddish‑brown patina,never stripped or polished.Reverse side displays cast knob plus incised old identification symbols,covered with well‑formed stable blue‑green burial corrosion patina firmly bonded to metal.No artificially applied fake rust.Natural edge wear comes from long‑term underground burial.No modern chemical cleaning,restoration or re‑carving.This seal originates from a private bronze collection in San Francisco,California,USA.The collector specialized in ancient northern steppe bronze artifacts.He purchased this seal from a San Francisco Asian antiquities dealer back in 2004.It was stored in moisture‑proof private cabinet for decades,viewed only among a small circle of specialists,and now released during collection reorganization.Description:This rectangular bronze seal is a functional personal authentication artifact widely used throughout Yuan China.It takes neat rectangular form with relatively thin body.A well‑cast arched loop knob sits on reverse,designed for cord threading so the owner could carry it conveniently.Seal face bears three relief‑cast Chinese characters “Tian Li Nian” within border frame.The script layout is full and square,showing typical Yuan‑dynasty calligraphic traits.Shallow incised symbols around the back knob were personal identifying marks made by an ancient user.The bronze alloy is dense and substantial.Thousands of years underground left thick reddish‑brown patina on stamping surface,while multi‑layer blue‑green corrosion covers reverse.All patina layers adhere solidly to original metal,this piece stays in untouched excavated condition.While Yuan‑dynasty personal seals are not extremely rare,rectangular bronze examples bearing Chinese text remain quite uncommon.The inscription “Tian Li Nian” itself is a seldom‑seen theme.This artifact delivers precious tangible evidence for research on Yuan‑dynasty folk writing,cultural beliefs and official‑private seal system.It carries powerful ancient visual character with layered authentic patina,offering great research merit as well as high collecting and display value for ancient bronze enthusiasts.

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