A silver-inlaid iron square seal, Ming dynasty or earlier

Lot 148. A silver-inlaid iron square seal, Ming dynasty or earlier; 2 1/2 in. (5.9 cm.) square. Estimate HKD 80,000 - HKD 150,000. Price realised HKD 118,750. © Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The square seal is cast with a finial in the form of two lion heads confronted on a flaming pearl. The surface is finely inlaid with silver with a pair of sinuous dragons on top and waves on the sides. The seal face is cast with an inscription in seal script, Ningyuan jiangjun zhang, 'Seal of General of Ningyuan'.

Provenance: Nakabayashi Gochiku (1827-1913), acquired in 1897 in Beijing.

Literature: Bronze Mirrors from Ancient China: Donald H. Graham Jr. Collection, Hong Kong, 1994, no. 89 (M90)

Exhibited: Honolulu Academy of Arts, Bronze Mirrors of Ancient China: An Exhibition, 24 May - 1 July 1990, Cat. no. 78 M 90 (according to the label on the box)
Hong Kong Museum of Art, no.180 (according to the label on the box)

Christie's. THE PAVILION SALE - CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, Hong Kong, 6 April 2015