Lot 2001
  • 2001

A SMALL AND EXTREMELY FINE IMPERIAL WHITE JADE 'SANXI TANG' SEAL QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

Estimate
1,000,000 - 1,500,000 HKD
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Description

of small rectangular form, surmounted by a finely carved qilong dragon in high relief, the small beast very well carved with its slender, muscular body writhing low on its haunches, the seal face finely carved with the characters Sanxi Tang ('Studio of the Three Rarities'), the stone of a pure, fine white tone throughout and finished with a smooth polish

Provenance

Removed from the Shouhuangdian (Hall of Imperial Longevity), Beijing, 1900.

Condition

There is a minute 1mm nick to one of the top edges of the seal and a faint yellowish patch of inclusion in the stone on that same side. The actual colour of the stone is very close to the catalogue illustration. The overall condition is very good.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

This seal belongs to a set of three seals and is paired with Guxi tianzhi (Son of Heaven at Seventy) and Youri zizi (Still Diligent Every Day).  It is carved with the characters Sanxi Tang (Studio of the Three Rarities).  It is a Yinshou zhang; it is used to make impressions at the right top corner of a painting or piece of calligraphy.

Sanxi Tang (Studio of the Three Rarities) is situated in the western suite of Yangxin Dian (Hall of Mental Cultivation) and is well-known for keeping prized antiquities.  Wang Xizhi's Kuaixue Shiqing Tie (Sudden Clearing after a Lively Snowfall), Wang Xianzhi's Zhongqiu Tie (Mid-Autumn Letter) and Wang Xun's Bai Yuan Tie (Bai Yuan's letter) are considered the three treasures of Chinese calligraphy.  All three works were miraculously collected by the Inner Court after hundreds of years of circulating in different hands.  This, to Emperor Qianlong, must be heaven's intervention.  Hence, Emperor Qianlong especially devoted a room in the western suite of Yangxin Dian to keep these three treasures in the eleventh year of his reign [1747].  The room was named Sanxi Tang.  Although the room is only 4 m2, the internal decoration is simple and tastefully done.  The small space is filled with sophistication and exquisiteness.  To a certain extent, it represents the best taste in Emperor Qianlong's collection of antiquities.  Sanxi Tang was preserved throughout the Qing dynasty, and remains, to this day, unchanged.