AN IMPERIAL SPINACH JADE 'XIANFU GONG' SEAL QING DYNASTY, JIAQING PERIOD

the plain high rectangular base surmounted by a deftly carved and pierced knop in the form of a ferocious five-clawed dragon in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl', its undulating body with finely incised scales meandering within dense cloud scrolls to display great vigor and power, its head carved with bulging eyes and flared nostrils above its open mouth revealing a curled tongue between sharp fangs, the seal face deeply and crisply carved vertically in seal script with three raised characters Xianfu Gong (Xianfu Palace), all enclosed within a single-line border, the stone of a dark green tone with natural inclusions and areas of darker speckling

The tip of the dragon's left horn has been polished down. The bottom edge of the seal face has a 0.5 cm bruise. There are also some tiny nibbles and minor surface pitting especially to the top edge of the seal face and the plain sides. The overall condition is otherwise 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 lot is one seal from a set of three.  The first seal in such sets, carved with the name of a building, would be impressed at the beginning of a work, and the other two, with phrases either elaborating on or giving the significance of that name, would be impressed at the end. Such sets are called Gong Dian Zu (Palace and Hall sets).  The present lot bears the name of the Xianfu Gong (Palace of Complete Happiness). The Xianfu Gong is one of six palaces in the northwestern corner of the Forbidden City. 

When Qianlong passed away in 1799, his successor to the throne, the Jiaqing emperor, first moved to the Shang Shufang (Prince's Study) to observe the mourning period. After twenty days, Jiaqing moved to the Xianfu Gong where he stayed for ten months. During that time, it was where he met court officials and conducted government business. 

The present lot matches an impression in the Jiaqing bao sou (Jiaqing Treasures: A Catalogue of Impressions of the Jiaqing Emperor's Seals).  According to that catalogue, the two other seals in that set were inscribed Hui qi you ji (Maintain One's Standards) and Xu yi shou ren (Encounter Others with an Open Mind). The seal reading Hui qi you ji was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 5th October 2011, lot 1910.

An English translation of the essay by Guo Fuxiang is available from the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department upon request.