AN INSCRIBED PALE CELADON JADE 'CHILONG' SEAL

18TH/19TH CENTURY

Details

AN INSCRIBED PALE CELADON JADE 'CHILONG' SEAL
18TH/19TH CENTURY
The rectangular seal is surmounted by a chilong beside its young, amidst swirling waves. The sides of the seal are inscribed with poetic lines, ending with the characters 'Qianlong yu ti', which may be translated as 'Imperially inscribed by Qianlong'. The seal face is carved with four characters in zhuanshu script, reading 'ming chang yu lan', which may be translated as 'for the imperial appreciation of Ming Chang'.
2¼ in. (5.7 cm.) high

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Lot Essay

The seal 'ming chang yu lan' is in the style of the seals made for Huizong (1082-1135) in the Song Dynasty.

The inscription on the sides of the seal contain a poem composed by the Qianlong emperor to voice his concern for the hardship of the peasants and to express his gratitude to the heavens for the snow that breaks the drought. The poem may be translated as:
Thinking of the plentiful winter snow, the harmful locusts have been driven deep into the ground.
Like an abundance of sustenance, this consols the hearts of my farmers.
When the young shoots appear, a good harvest seems especially near.

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