Important imperial style 'double dragon' white jade seal. Qing dynasty 'treasure of concern over phenomena at eighty' . Photo courtesy Freeman's

Square form surmounted by addorsed dragons, the powerful head carved with bulging eyes and flared nostrils issuing scrolling whiskers, over delicately interlaced scaly bodies. Seal reading 'Bazheng maonian zhibao'.  H: 2 2/5 in. W: 2 2/3 in. Minor surface wear and some natural inclusions to jade; sign of wear and use. Dimension of seal: 3 in. X 3 in. ; height of base 1 3/8 in. ; total height 2 1/2 in. Estimate $30,000-50,000 

PROVENANCE:  Property of a Philadelphia Gentleman
Purchased in Palm Beach during the 1970s
Previously part of a 19th century French Collection

Old French Collector's label loosely reads: 
'Seal having belonged to the Emperor ...after his abdication at the age of 80 years....inscription 'thoughts of vieillard who ..the eight lines' 

For near identical imperial white jade seals of near proportions see:   Christie's Lot 1861, Sale 2389 Hong Kong, 2007 &
Sotheby's Lot 2103 Hong Kong October, 2010

Note: This same seal impression is from a set of three that are recorded in the Qianlong Baosou Palace Museum Library, Beijing. (Arts of Asia Vol 41 Number 1, page 50 )
'Bazheng maonian zhibao' were a series of seals carved from Khotan green jade and white jade; several examples are currently in the National Place Museum, Taipei.
The size of this seal indicates that it may have been commissioned in a pair and fitted in an elaborate wooden box. Those of larger size were often single seals.  

Freeman's. FINE & DECORATIVE ASIAN ARTS.  Saturday, September 10 at 10am www.freemansauction.com