Cachet impérial en jade céladon clair, ti he dian zhen shang Chine, dynastie Qing, cachet de l'impératrice régente Cixi (1835-1908)

l'imposante base carrée surmontée d'un double dragon à cinq griffes, les animaux puissants prostrés dos à dos gueules entrouvertes, les écailles dorsales hérissées, le jade céladon clair avec un doux poli mettant en évidence les nuances vert olive et blanches de la pierre, la surface sculptée en creux des caractères Ti He Dian Zhen Shang (apprécié dans le hall de TiHe)

Collection de Mme Caroline Touret qui dirigea dans la première moitié du XX^ème siècle la célèbre maison de chapeaux Caroline Reboux.

A chip (5 x 4 x 6 mm) to the front right corner by the bottom (visible on the illustration in the catalogue) with a crack extending horizontally on each side (2,5 and 4,5 cm), another small chip to the rear right corner, approx 1,5 cm from the base (see illustration), a few other minor chips (1 to 3 mm) scattered along the bottom edges, but overall the seal is in good condition. The actual colour of the stone is more pale green and less grey than the illustration would suggest.
"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 belongs to an important group of seals of the Dowager Empress Cixi. A closely related seal with similar inscription Tihe dian zhenshang (Treasured and Appreciated at the Hall of Embodied Harmony), from the collection of Emile Guimet, was offered in these rooms, 18^th December 2008, lot 7. For a slightly larger seal, similarly carved with a double-headed dragon, but on a rectangular base with the inscription Yikungong zhenshang (Treasure for Appreciation in the Yikun Palace), see one offered at Christie's Hong Kong, 3^rd December 2008, lot 2239.

According to Guo Fuxiang, researcher in the Department of Palace History, The Palace Museum, Beijing, the Empress Dowager Cixi appears to have had over forty seals inscribed with the name Tihe dian ('Hall of Embodied Harmony') which often appear in sets of various shapes, sizes and materials (see Guo Fuxiang, 'A Tihe dian zhenshang (Treasured and Appreciated at the Hall of Embodied Harmony) Seal of the Empress Dowager Cixi', Marques d'Empereurs, Sotheby's, Paris, 2008, p. 48).

The "Hall of embodied harmony" is located between the Palace of Gathered Elegance (Chuxiu Gong) and the Place to Assist Earth (Yikun Gong), found among the Six Western Palaces in the Forbidden City. The two rooms in its east wing were used as the dining room for the Empress Dowager Cixi, and the two rooms in its West wing were used to drink tea and relax after dinner.