CHINA, EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Details

A SET OF FOUR SIGNED AND DATED SOAPSTONE SEALS
CHINA, EARLY 20TH CENTURY
The first seal of rectangular shape carved on one side with an inscription stating that Qi Baishi carved the seal for Lu Zhiya in the dingchou year, corresponding to 1937, the seal face bearing the characters qingxiu (refined); the second seal of square section surmounted by a mythical animal, carved on one side with an inscription dated to the yihai year, corresponding to 1935, and signed Baishi, the seal face with Lu Zhiya's courtesy name, Ruogong; the third rectangular seal inscribed on one side with Lu Zhiya's studio name, Cuishan guan zhuren (master of the verdant hill), followed by the date renshen year (1932), and signed Baishi, the seal face with the characters Cuishan guan; the fourth seal surmounted by a coiled scaly dragon, inscribed on one side with the signature Baishi and the year bingwu (1906), the seal face with the characters Ruogong
The tallest seal 2 9/16 in. (6.4 cm.) high, box

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

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Gemma Sudlow

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Lot Essay

Lu Zhiya (1884-1964) was an extremely successful businessman, philanthropist and ardent art collector from Shanghai, active during the first half of the 20th century. He was particularly passionate about collecting seals carved by Qi Baishi, and was said to have collected as many as five hundred seals made by the esteemed artist.

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