TWO SOAPSTONE SEALS 19TH / 20TH CENTURY

the first of rectangular outline, surmounted by a trapezoidal finial finely carved on each side with archaistic animals, one side and the seal face carved with an inscription taken from a seal used by Wang Hui indicating which past masters influenced his painting style, the side additionally dated (corresponding to 1912) and signed Wang Daxin; the second of square form, surmounted by a bixie finial, the seal face carved with four characters from a poem by Song dynasty poet Zhang Yan, danran shisi (poetry composition should be pure and natural), the sides dated Guangxu period and signed Xia Tongshan (2)

The inscription on the side and the seal face of the first seal reads yi zai Danqiu, Huanghe, Baishi, Qingteng zhi jian (my style is somewhere between that of Danqiu, Huanghe, Baishi and Qingteng). The names mentioned are the sobriquets of Ke Jiusi, Wang Meng, Shen Zhou and Xu Wei respectively. It is dated renzi sui chun si yue (1912, Spring, fourth month) and signed Shanmin Wang Daxin zhi bing ji (made and recorded by Wang Daxin, a resident of the mountains).

Wang Daxin (1869-1924) was a native of Jiangsu province, known as a painter and seal engraver. He found fame with Wu Changshuo and Qian Ya, and because they each had the character for iron, tie, in their sobriquets, they were known as the 'Three Irons of South China'.

The side of the second seal is inscribed Guangxu jiyuan Renhe Zisong Xia Tongshan jiyu zou dao (carved by Xia Tongshan, sobriquet Zisong, from Renhe during the Guangxu era).

Xia Tonghsan (1831-1880) was a native of Hangzhou. In 1856, he came in first in the Imperial examinations and served as an official in the Qing government.