A RARE IVORY ‘QILIN’ SEAL MING DYNASTY, 15TH/16TH CENTURY

of square form, the top of the seal incised with two parallel grooves, surmounted by a qilin crouching on its rear haunches with an upright bushy tail, its scaly body emitting flame scrolls around the limbs, the head looking forward with large bead-shaped eyes and wide flaring nostrils, the ivory patinated to a rich golden-brown colour, suffused with a network of crackles in concentric circles

The corners of the seal have been polished, and there is a chip to the tip of the qilin's tail, and a chip to the top of the seal under the qilin. There are several other small chips and nicks to the seal face and along the edges.
"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."

Ivory seals of the Ming dynasty are rare and the Ming attribution of the present piece is confirmed by a related seal dated to 1418 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, from the collection of H.J. Oppenheim and now in the British Museum, London, included in the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1935-6, cat. no. 2935. Another seal, attributed to the late Ming period, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Zhongguo meishu fenlei quanji. Zhongguo zhu mu ya jiao qi quanji, Beijing, 2009, pl. 29.

Further examples of Ming ivory seals include one from the collection of Sir Herbert and Lady Ingram of Driffield Manor, sold in our London rooms, 8th June 1993, lot 155, carved on the top with a lion; and another with a dragon in a pose similar to the present, attributed to the Wanli reign (1573-1620), from the Sir Percival and Lady David collection, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition The Arts of the Ming Dynasty, The Arts Council Gallery, London, 1957, cat. no. 363, sold in our London rooms, 14th December 1976, lot 206. See also a meticulously carved seal surmounted by a dragon clutching a flaming pearl, offered in our Hong Kong rooms, 4th April 2012, lot 3201.