CHINE, DYNASTIE YUAN (1279-1368)

Huaya is a type of seal originated in the Song dynasty depicting figurative patterns and ciphered or stylised characters. Used in place of a signature, their influence extends to the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The imposing dragon covered by the elaborate scales of the present jade seal is vividly rendered by the meticulous carver towards the muscles of its body, the sharpness of its claws and the solemn expression on its face. Compare to a very closely related beige jade dragon seal, displayed in the collection of the Shanghai Museum (fig.1), dated Song dynasty, illustrated in Tang, Song, Yuan, si yin ya ji ji cun, by Sun Wei Zu, Shanghai Bookstore Publishing House, 2001. According to the description of the Shanghai Museum, their example likely belonged to one of the Northern Song dynasty emperors for his personal use.