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Lot Essay
The present seal is accompanied by a cloth box bearing the inscriptions of the collector Xu Hanqing. Inscriptions on the cover of the box and the interior of the cover state that the seal finial was carved by Shangjun ‘from cold tianhuang stone’; that Kutie refers to Wu Changshou (1844-1927); and that Kugong refers to Duan Fang (1861-1911).
Shangjun is the style name of Zhou Bin, a native of Zhangzhou in Fujian. He was active in the Kangxi era and was deemed “the foremost knob-carver of early Qing.” His works were known for their distinctive character, exaggerated representation and unique shape, and were often mentioned in the notes of Qing scholars.
Wu Changshuo was a central figure in Chinese painting during the early years of the 20th century. He was known for his calligraphic work and seals, which were famous for their elegance. His style of carving was known as the ‘Wu style’. In 1904, he became the first director of the Xiling Seal Carving Society, an organization in Hangzhou dedicated to studying seal carving.
Duan Fang, pseudonym Tao Zhai, was a late Qing dynasty government official who amassed an extraordinary collection of Chinese art. Known as the Taozhai Collection, it included Neolithic jades, Shang and Zhou dynasty bronzes, landscape paintings and Buddhist sculpture. In 1909, he published Taozhai jijin xulu, the first catalogue to use the photolithographic process to print rubbings of bronzes.
The present seal was in the collection of the Republic-period businessman and collector Xu Hanqing. Xu Hanqing, originally named Fubing and a native of Yancheng in Jiangsu, was born in Shandong province in 1882. He became a successful national banker of great means, as well as a renowned collector. His collection was particularly rich in Chinese paintings, rubbings of Chinese calligraphy, coins and currency.
Shangjun is the style name of Zhou Bin, a native of Zhangzhou in Fujian. He was active in the Kangxi era and was deemed “the foremost knob-carver of early Qing.” His works were known for their distinctive character, exaggerated representation and unique shape, and were often mentioned in the notes of Qing scholars.
Wu Changshuo was a central figure in Chinese painting during the early years of the 20th century. He was known for his calligraphic work and seals, which were famous for their elegance. His style of carving was known as the ‘Wu style’. In 1904, he became the first director of the Xiling Seal Carving Society, an organization in Hangzhou dedicated to studying seal carving.
Duan Fang, pseudonym Tao Zhai, was a late Qing dynasty government official who amassed an extraordinary collection of Chinese art. Known as the Taozhai Collection, it included Neolithic jades, Shang and Zhou dynasty bronzes, landscape paintings and Buddhist sculpture. In 1909, he published Taozhai jijin xulu, the first catalogue to use the photolithographic process to print rubbings of bronzes.
The present seal was in the collection of the Republic-period businessman and collector Xu Hanqing. Xu Hanqing, originally named Fubing and a native of Yancheng in Jiangsu, was born in Shandong province in 1882. He became a successful national banker of great means, as well as a renowned collector. His collection was particularly rich in Chinese paintings, rubbings of Chinese calligraphy, coins and currency.