A RARE CARNELIAN AGATE ‘HERMITAGE’ SEAL, DEPICTING A TIANLU, QING DYNASTY

拍品描述

A RARE CARNELIAN AGATE ‘HERMITAGE’ SEAL, DEPICTING A TIANLU, QING DYNASTY Inscriptions: The seal face carved with the single seal-script character 庵 (an), meaning “hermitage,” “retreat,” or a secluded dwelling, often with Buddhist or scholarly connotations. Expert’s note: Carnelian agate seals like the present lot are exceedingly rare. The carver has oriented the stone with sensitivity to its natural structure, reserving the translucent milky-white portion for the tall rectangular seal body and the warm carnelian-red stratum for the boldly modeled mythical-beast finial. The unusual inclined upper surface appears to follow the oblique transition between the two colors, allowing the red material to be preserved and fully incorporated into the sculpture. It is an accomplished example of qiaose, or the ‘ingenious use of color’, whereby the form and decoration are determined by the natural markings of the stone. China, 1644-1912. The square seal with a distinctly sloping upper surface, surmounted by a mythical beast standing foursquare. Its rounded body extends into a short, bushy tail held erect, while the powerfully modeled head is slightly raised and turned to the left, as if surveying the horizon. The facial features are defined by bulging eyes, a flattened muzzle with a broad, incised mouth line, and a distinctive single horn curving back over the nape. The finely polished, translucent stone displays an attractive interplay of warm honey-orange and icy white tones, enhanced by natural veining and inclusions. Dimensions: Height 4.4 cm Tianlu is the male form of the pixiu, a mythical hybrid creature considered a powerful protector and auspicious symbol of wealth. Resembling a strong, winged tiger or lion, the pixiu is said to have a voracious appetite exclusively for gold, silver, and jewels and is therefore believed to draw cai qi (wealth) from all directions. According to traditional belief, it is especially beneficial to those experiencing an inauspicious year. Two types of pixiu are distinguished: the single-horned male, known as Tianlu, and the two-horned female, known as Bixie. Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty declared that the pixiu would be forever known as the ‘Treasure of the Emperor’, that only royal personage could possess a pixiu, and that it was strictly forbidden for all others to own one, including officials. This law was kept through to the very end of the Qing dynasty. Literature comparison: Compare a related carnelian agate seal carved with a chilong and bearing the inscription Suianshi, dated to the Yongzheng era, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, object number 故00166904. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2013, lot 3618 Price: HKD 118,750 or approx. EUR 18,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related modeling, manner of carving, and stone. Note the smaller size (2.8 cm).

图片