AN INSCRIBED TIANHUANG 'MYTHICAL ANIMAL' SEAL
SIGNED ZHOU LIANGGONG, EARLY QING DYNASTY
The seal is surmounted by a finial in the form of a single-horned recumbent mythical beast, the sides of the seal incised with a long inscription recounting the carver's trip to West Lake in Hangzhou, followed by a signature Yuanliang. The seal face is carved.
3/4 in. (2.1 cm.) wide, 18g
Yuanliang is the studio name of Zhou Lianggong (1612-1672), a scholar-official active during the late Ming to early Qing period and was known for his talent in calligraphy, painting, poetry and seal carving.