A TIANHUANG 'DRAGON' SEAL QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

of square section, surmounted by a ferocious dragon with bulging eyes and flaring nostrils below two curled horns, grasping a 'flaming pearl' while riding upon turbulent waves, the scaly body accented with sharp talons, the left foreleg seizing a whisker, the seal face carved with four characters Liushi ji zi, inscribed on one side with five characters xinhai chun Xingzhou ('Spring of the xinhai year by Xinzhou' (1911)), the stone of deep honey-yellow tone

The Jing Miao Xuan Collection.

The Jing Miao Xuan Seal Collection, vol. II, cat. no. 12.

Apart from some old nicks to the edge of the seal face and vertical corners and a 1cm polished indentation on the side, the overall condition is very good. The actual colour is slightly paler than in the catalogue illustration.
"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 seal was engraved by Xu Xinzhou, hao Xinzhou, (1853-1925), in the xinhai year, 1911 for Liushi ji zi, Liu Tiqing, the third son of the well-known Liu family of Nanxun.  Xu Xinzhou was the protégé of Wu Changzhou.