AN INSCRIBED TIANHUANG SEAL

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AN INSCRIBED TIANHUANG SEAL
QING DYNASTY, CYCLICAL JIMAO YEAR CORRESPONDING TO 1879 AND OF THE PERIOD

Of square columnar form, the upper surface carved with a recumbent mythical beast, its head turned back partially resting on its coiled body, incised on one vertical side with a short poem, followed by the cyclical Jimao date and bearing the sobriquet, Haosou, the seal chop with four characters, Yitan Qianqi, 'A thousand lakes (under) the moon', the stone of rich caramel brown tone
2 5/8 in. (6.6 cm.) high, fitted box

Lot Essay

The sobriquet, Haosou, can be identified as the official, Yang Yisun (1812-1881) who is recorded as a Juren, having passed his prefecture examination in 1843, and was a well-known seal carver. Cf. Zhongguo Meishujia Renming Cidian, Shanghai renmin chubanshe, 2003, p. 1181; where it is noted that the sobriquet, Haosou was adopted during Yang Yisun's latter years.

The couplet may be translated as:

The cinnabar imparts a measure of beauty,
repeatedly used by a deft hand at a passing pleasure.

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