A SOAPSTONE CIRCULAR 'LOTUS' SEAL PASTE BOX AND COVER XINGYOUHENG TANG MARK AND PERIOD OF DAOGUANG

the flat cover with rounded sides carved in low relief with a blooming lotus borne on a meandering scroll, the sides of the fitted box decorated by two parallel raised fillets, the flat underside incised with four characters Xingyouheng Tang ('Imperial Hall of Consistency'), the soapstone of a mustard-yellow tone highlighted with vermillion-red streaks and natural inclusions

Acquired in Paris between the 1970s and the early 90s.