A PAIR OF SPINACH-GREEN JADE 'DRAGON' SEALS QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

each of square form, surmounted by a finely carved dragon, the beast carved with bulging eyes above long curling whiskers and flaring nostrils, the scaly body coiled tightly and crouching on its haunches with a 'flaming pearl' in between its front paws and surrounded by dense cloud swirls, one seal face crisply carved with the characters Biyan jingliang ('Desire for the brush and inkstone'); the other with the characters Rensheng yile ('The greatest joy in life'), the stone of a deep fern-green tone speckled with darker inclusions

Private Canadian Collection.
Christie's New York, 29th November 1990, lot 343.
Christie's Hong Kong, 26th April 2004, lot 1211. 

To the seal on the left hand side, there is a nick to the tip of the dragon's tail, and tiny expected nibbles to the carving. There is a nick to one cloud which has been polished down. There are small nibbles to the edges of the seal. To the seal on the right hand side, there are tiny nibbles to the edges of the carving and seal. There is a tiny bruise of approx 0.2 cm on a cloud on the reverse. Otherwise the pair is in good condition and are very well matched. The colour is of a slightly deeper green than the illustration depicts.
"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 pair of seals is carved with the characters Biyan jingliang('Desire for the brush and inkstone'); and Rensheng yile ('The greatest joy in life').  The phrase Biyan jingliang is recorded more than twelve times in the Collected Anthology of Imperial Qianlong poems, whereas there is no record of the other phrase, Rensheng yile.  However, the Qianlong emperor was familiar with the original source of both phrases, as shown in the following anecdote from Yuding Peiwen zhai shuhua pu (Calligraphy and Painting Manual From the Studio of the Literary Pendant Hung Waist Sash, Authorized By His Majesty [Qianlong]), Siku quanshu ed., 6:12b.

Ouyang Xiu [1007-1072] of the Song dynasty, "Testing My Calligraphy"

To Study Calligraphy Is A Joy:  Su Zimei (Su Shunqin [1008-1048] once said, "A bright window, a clean desk, and writing bush and inkstone both of the most excellent quality (Biyan jingliang), these indeed provide the greatest joy in life (Rensheng yile)."  However, those who can achieve this kind of joy are very rare, and those who are good at allowing themselves not to be moved by external things are even rarer.  Though late in life, I have come to appreciate such taste.  I regret that my calligraphy lacks skill and falls short of the fine qualities achieved by the ancients.  If this be considered joy, there must still be more to it. 

Ouyang Xiu's anecdote is repeated in many sources - painting and calligraphy catalogues, inkstone manuals and works on antiques.  Even the Qianlong emperor included it in his calligraphy and painting manual, showing that he was both familiar and inspired by Ouyang Xiu's short anecdote.  The Qianlong emperor thus commissioned a pair of seals inscribed with two of the phrases, suggesting that he was ever mindful of the demands and joys of calligraphy as he engaged in his own writings, both official and personal. 

Research by Professor Emeritus Richard John Lynn, University of Toronto.