CHINA, NORTHERN DYNASTIES AND LATER

Details

FOUR GILT-BRONZE ‘TORTOISE’ SEALS
CHINA, NORTHERN DYNASTIES AND LATER
Comprised of four square seals of varying sizes, each surmounted by a tortoise, carved on the seal faces with characters in seal script
The largest 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm.) wide

Provenance

The Collection of Robert H. Ellsworth, New York, acquired in Hong Kong, between 1987 and 1991.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

Brought to you by

Gemma Sudlow

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ellsworth@christies.com 212 636 2000

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Lot Essay

Small seals of this type were made for personal use, and are thought to have been worn suspended from the owner's belt. They were made from jade, gold, silver, gilt-bronze and bronze. A small silver tortoise seal of this type is illustrated by W.P. Yetts, The Eumorfopoulos Collection, vol. II, London, 1930, pl. LXV, no. B 289, along with two small gilt-bronze chimera seals, nos. B 288 and B 290.

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