Details
A RARE GROUP OF ELEVEN TIANHUANG SEALS, YIN
17TH CENTURY AND LATER
Mostly of rich, semi-translucent honey tone with one of silver-gold type, jinyindong, most inscribed, fitted box
Comprising:
1. A seal, yin, Ming/Qing Dynasty, of squat rectangular shape carved in low relief on the sides and rounded top, niu, with archaistic chilong, the stone with feathery darker inclusion--1¾ in. (4.3cm.) high
Side inscriptions (biankuan): five-characters on narrow side which read, gu min zhou bin zhi, two characters which read, (Fang) Jiekan
The seal in yangke script (positive cutting) forms part of a poem. The long inscription includes the name of the famous carver, Zhou Bin. Zhou Bin was a native of Zhangzhou in Fujian. The short inscription, (Fang) Jiekan, is the name of the seal carver. Fang Jiekan worked between 1903-1987
2. A seal, yin, probably Kangxi, of square shape carved in high relief on the upper section, niu, with two coiling phoenix amidst scrolling clouds and lingzhi, their wings and feathers finely detailed, supported on a square flat platform, pingtai, the stone of rare silver-gold type, jinyindong, minute chip and bruising on base and head of one phoenix--2 1/8in. (5.3cm.) high
Side inscription, biankuan: two-character inscription reads, Xiuhai. Xiuhai is the art name of Xu Shanyeng, a famous seal carver
The seal, unfortunately, has been removed
3. A seal, yin, Qing Dynasty, of tall rectangular shape with sloping upper surface, chips and bruise--2½in. (6.4cm.) high
Side inscription, biankuan: thirteen-character inscription includes the carver's name, Tao Shoubo (1902 - ?), the cyclical date, renchen year (corresponding to 1952), and "carved for Chairman Wu" (Mayor of Shanghai)
The seal in yinke (negative cutting) script reads, Wu Guozhen. Wu Guozhen (1903-1984, same as nos. 7 and 10) was the mayor of Shanghai before moving to Taipei
4. A seal, yin, Qing Dynasty, of small rectangular shape with sloping upper surface, minute chips and bruising--1 3/8in. (3.5cm.) high
The seal in yangke (positive cutting) script, set within a gourd, reads, Biwuge (studio name: Pavilion of Green Wutong)
5. A seal, yin, of small rectangular shape, the sides and top softly cut to imitate the natural surface of rockwork--1½in. (3.7 cm.) high
The seal in yangke (positive cutting) script reads, Baiyunlou (hall name: Hall of White Cloud)
6. A seal, yin, Qing Dynasty, of small rectangular shape with gently sloping sides rising to a point at one side, the niu carved in shallow relief with a scaly dragon appearing from within a cloud and lunging upward at a sacred pearl, the very tip of the seal carved with the tail of the dragon as it disappears into the cloud--1 11/16in. (4.3 cm.) high
Side inscription, biankuan: three characters which read, engraved by Shiyuan (seal), and two characters which read, xinhan, (carver of the original seal, now replaced)
The seal in yangke (positive cutting) script reads, Zhouqun langzhu, and can be translated, "Zhouqun, painter of bamboo and orchid"
7. A seal, yin, Qing Dynasty, of upright square shape, the top with lightly chamfered edges, the stone with attractive inclusions--1 7/8 in. (4.8cm.) high
Side inscription biankuan: seven characters which read, 'engraved by Tao Shoubo' (same carver as seal no.3) and dated, 'summer of renchen year' (corresponding to 1952)
The seal in yinke (negative cutting) script reads, Wu Guozhen (same as seal on Nos. 3 and 10)
8. A seal, yin, possibly Kangxi, of small, upright square shape with gently sloping sides rising to a point at one side, the niu carved in relief with a finely detailed phoenix amidst clouds and lingzhi, minute chips--1 9/16in. (3.9cm.) high
Side inscription, biankuan: with a six-character (earlier) and a four-character (later ) inscription. The six characters can be read as Shuru, (name of the seal carver) following the style of a Han Dynasty official seal (now removed). Shuru is the art name of Zhao Shigang (1874-1945). The four characters can be read as, "signed by Shiyuan (same as seal no.6) in the style of Han Dynasty"
The seal (replacing an earlier one by Shuru) in yinke (negative cutting) script reads, Huang Zhouqun yin, and is carved for the same person as seal no. 6
9. A seal, yin, possibly Kangxi, of small rectangular shape, with gently sloping sides rising to a point on one side and imitating rockwork--1½in. (3.8cm.) high
Side inscription, biankuan: three characters read, Xiuhai zhi. Xiuhai is the art name of Xu Shangang (same as seal no.2)
The seal in yangke script reads, luiwenren (six scholars), and is probably the original seal cut by Xiuhai
10. A seal, yin, possibly Kangxi, of small upright square shape, the flat top, niu, carved in shallow relief with a coiled long-nosed phoenix above a thin band of foliate-scrolls on a wave ground on the upper portion of the sides, small flaw and bruise--1 5/16 in. (3.3cm.) high
Side inscription, biankuan: includes seven characters which read, "engraved by Daisheng" and cyclically dated "jiashen year" (1884); and three characters which read, 'made by Shoubo'. Daisheng is the art name of Lu tai (1835--?)
The seal in yingke (negative cutting) script reads, Wu Guozhen yin (same as Nos. 3 and 7)
11. A seal, yin, possibly Kangxi, of small, upright square shape, the niu carved as a recumbent beast with tail coiled on one side seated on a flat platform, pingtai, the stone with attractive inclusions, flaw and bruises--1 3/16in. (3cm.) high
Side inscription, biankuan: a long inscription includes 'carved by Ke Youzhen' (late 19th century?) and "now that I am 51 years old I can call myself weng", and five further characters read, "recarved by Feng Kanghou" (1901-1983). Feng Kanghou is a famous 20th century seal carver
The seal in yangke (positive cutting) script reads Zhouqun (same as no. 8)
