A LARGE IMPERIAL CELADON JADE SEAL

of large square form, surmounted by a well-carved pair of addorsed dragons, each powerfully carved with piercing eyes and nostrils flaring above curling whiskers and clenched mouths bearing sharp fangs, the two scaly bodies tightly intertwined and crouching on the haunches, pierced through the centre with an aperture, the square seal deeply carved with the characters Yikun Gong yulan (Imperially Appreciated at the Yikun Palace), the stone of light green tone with natural veining

Acquired or by descent to Sir Oswald Birley circa 1920-30;
thence by descent

Rhoda Koenig, ‘Top Dog’, The World of Interiors, December 1996, illustrated on a table in the Dining Room, p.71

The seal is in good condition with the exception of a 0.4 x 0.4cm chip to the 'lan' character on the seal face, two shallow flakes (0.3 x0.2cm and 0.2x0.1cm respectively) and two bruises (0.3 x 0.1cm and 0.1 x 0.1cm respectively) to one corner of the seal, and other minor nibbles and signs of wear along the extremeties. The tip of one of the dragon horn is lost (0.2 x0.2cm), and a possible bruise (0.5 x 0.2cm) to the tongue of one dragon. There are milky-white and pale yellow inclusions to the pale green stone with minor veining.
"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."

The present imperial seal is carved in relief with the five characters Yikun gong yulan which may be translated as ‘Imperially Appreciated at the Yikun Palace’. A similar seal, which is of the same form, size and material to the present example and is similarly surmounted by a pair of addorsed scaly dragons each beast powerfully fashioned with flaring nostrils and menacing teeth, can be found in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. The Fitzwilliam seal, while bearing the same five characters, is carved in intaglio script (yinwen), confirming that seals of this type were made in sets. See the Fitzwilliam seal illustrated in James C.S. Lin, The Immortals Stone, Chinese Jades The Yikun Palace, located in the Western section of the Forbidden City in Beijing and part of the Six Western Palaces (Xiliu gong), historically served as the accommodation for empresses and concubines from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to the Qing period (1644-1911). During the late Qing it was rebuilt and linked to Empress Dowager Cixi’s favourite residence complex, the Chuxiu Palace. After the death of the Xianfeng Emperor in 1861, Cixi’s son was crowned emperor and she was awarded the title ‘Honourable Mother Empress Dowager’ (Shengmu huangtaiho), and given the honorific name ‘Cixi’. Cixi swiftly took over the management of state affairs, albeit from behind a screen, and enjoyed absolute political power, ruling the nation for the next 48 years. Her seals, including the present example, set her apart from other empresses and concubines, and serve as important documentary proof of her prevailing status in the Qing court. While an unusually large number of seals were made while she was in power, those that are identifiable and directly attributable to her, as this seal, are limited in number.

For further examples of imperial seals belonging to Cixi, see one made for the Tihe Palace, sold at Sotheby’s Paris, 18^th December 2008, lot 7, from the collection of Emile Guimet; and another, of rectangular form bearing the inscription Lijing xuan yulan (Imperially Appreciated at the Lijing Pavillion), illustrated ibid., cat. 83a,b and c.