Lot 551
  • 551

A RARE IMPERIAL ROCK CRYSTAL 'JIANKONG HENGPING' SEAL QING DYNASTY, SEAL OF EMPRESS DOWAGER CIXI |

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
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Description

  • crystal
  • Height 2 3/8  in., 6.1 cm; Width 2 7/8  in., 7.3 cm; Depth 2 7/8  in., 7.3 cm
of square section, the translucent stone surmounted by a well-carved mythical beast crouching on its powerful claws, the horned creature rendered with protruding eyes above a slightly upturned snout, its mouth agape revealing sharp fangs, flanked by a pair of long curling whiskers, the top of its scaly body detailed with a well-pronounced spine, terminating in a bushy tail swept against its left haunch, the seal face crisply incised in zhuwen style with four characters reading Jiankong hengping (to maintain fairness and balance)

Provenance

Collection of Gustav Detring (1842-1913) or Constantin von Hanneken (1854-1925), and thence by descent. 

Condition

The square seal with a few chips to the corners and edges, the largest measuring approx. 1.5 cm long. The mythical beast finial with some minor chips and nicks near the tail. The stone with some natural fissures and inclusions.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

This rare rock crystal seal is well carved in relief with four characters reading Jiankong hengping, which can be translated as 'to maintain fairness and balance'. A seal of a smaller size but with the same four characters, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is recorded in the imperial seal catalogue of the Empress Dowager Cixi, and its impression is published in Gugong bowuyuan cang qingdai dihou xiyin pu Cixi juan [catalogue of imperial seals of the Qing dynasty. Cixi section], vol. 12, Beijing, 2005, p. 33 (fig. 1). During the Qing dynasty, it was common practice for emperors to order multiple imperial seals to be made with the same face characters. Guo Fuxiang has noted that sometimes as many as ten seals with the same characters were made for Cixi, see Guo Fuxiang, 'Fengzailongshang - Cixi taihou de baoxi [Phoenix above the dragon - imperial seals of the Empress Dowager Cixi]', Forbidden City, 2011.10, p. 69. This established practice makes it likely that the present seal belongs to the same group as the example cited in the Palace Museum, Beijing (op. cit.). This conclusion can further be supported through matching the seal impression of the present lot with the same impressions found on existing Cixi paintings.

A comprehensive survey of imperial seals reveals that the Empress Dowager Cixi owned a comparatively larger number of precious seals – perhaps as it was known she "held court behind the screen" and effectively controlled the Qing imperial government for some 48 years.  During her reign, even though Chinese society was thrown into turmoil drastically weakening governmental authority, the Empress Dowager commissioned work from the imperial workshops and demanded they be on display to enhance her image as ruler in China. Imperial seals, such as the present example, reflected prestige and power and even though the craftsmanship of her seals seems to exhibit a slight decline in quality commensurate with dynastic deterioration, it is clear from the number of seals produced during the period that Dowager Empress Cixi was determined to maintain traditional imperial standards.