A finely carved tianhuang 'goat' seal 17th Century

of oval section forming a pedestal for the mythical beast with a goat's head, seated on its haunches propped up by his paws with sharp talons, his details intricately and precisely carved, the muscular body of the beast, its capriform face framed by pointed ears set between a pair of long horns extending back from the top of his head, a wispy beard extends from his chin opposite the thick mane running down his neck and back, above a long bush tail curled around his hind quarter, the seal face carved with the seven characters jishen xiude dao meihua ('What do I have to do to attain the level of purity like the plum blossom?'), the stone of a mottled rich amber-yellow colour

A Private Japanese Collection.

Apart from a few minor old nibbles along the edges of the seal face and top edge of the pedestal, a 1 cm flaw in the stone on the side , and a tiny chip to the right horn and right ear, 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."

The present seal is outstanding for its exceptional richness and translucency of the tianhuang stone and the skilful naturalistic carving. The treatment of the finely stylised creature, with its meticulously modelled head and paws and subtly defined muscles that are revealed in a strong seated pose, testifies to the consummate skills of 17^th century carvers, possibly from the Shoushan area in Fujian province where the precious stone was mined. Tianhuang has long been regarded as the rival material to the finest and purest jade used for making items for Imperial use. The word shou from Shoushan means 'longevity' and the word fu of Fujian means 'fortune'; hence tianhuang conveys the message of good fortune and longevity. It is also worth noting that tianhuang was traditionally valued according to its weight rather than its size, making it one of the most expensive materials for works of art. 

See a tianhuang paperweight in the shape of a recumbent goat in the Shanghai Museum, signed by the artist Yuxuan, illustrated in The Chinese Scholar's Studio. Artistic Life in the Late Ming Period, The Asia Society Galleries, New York, 1987, cat. no. 54.

Yang, the collective name for goats, sheep and rams, is a homophone of the male positive force, yang, and represents the spirit or breath of light and life that returns at the end of winter and the beginning of spring.