Live Auction 7964Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
A RARE SMALL MOTTLED GREY JADE SEAL
Lot 88

A RARE SMALL MOTTLED GREY JADE SEAL

17TH/18TH CENTURY

Closed10 May 2011

Price Realised

GBP 145,250

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A RARE SMALL MOTTLED GREY JADE SEAL
17TH/18TH CENTURY
The square plinth surmounted by a finely carved crouching mythical beast, the mane and bushy tail finely incised emulating hair, the face carved with four characters reading zhi liang yong zhong, the stone of attractive pale grey and white tones
2 in. (5.7 cm.) high

Acquired by Prosper Bramaud du Boucheron whilst serving as a young naval officer on the French gun boat "Olry" on the Yang Tse river during the early years of the 20th century.

Specialist note

The four characters zhi liang yong zhong may be translated as 'to remain objective and achieve the best solution in the face of difficulty'.
The phrase originates from one of the Confucian texts, 'The Doctrine of the Mean', written circa 500 BC.