An exceptional imperial white jade "Quanlong yubi" seal. The seal, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period. The seal face recarved during the Qianlong reign.

of extremely large square form, surmounted by an exceptionally well carved pair of addorsed dragons, each carved with eyes bulging and nostrils flaring below flaring horns, the scales and flowing manes finely incised in meticulous detail, the two muscular bodies writhing and intertwining to display great vigour and power, pierced through the centre with an aperture, the square seal deeply and crisply carved with the four characters Qianlong Yubi ('In the Imperial Hand of Qianlong'), the stone of an exceptionally even milky-white tone and finished with a brilliant and smooth polish. 12.5 by 12.5 cm., 4 7/8 by 4 7/8 in. Estimate Upon Request

PROVENANCE : Removed from the Shouhuangdian (Hall of Imperial Longevity), Beijing, 1900.
Acquired at Galerie Langweil, a leading gallery in Paris at the turn of the 20th century.

NOTE : The present seal is one of Emperor Qianlong's important seals made in the early years of his reign. It is carved with the characters Qianlong Yubi (In the Imperial Hand of Qianlong). It is rare to find such a smooth and lustrous white jade imperial seal with a pure even tone. The seal is also remarkable in size with a width of 12.5 cm. It is the largest seal inscribed with the name of Emperor Qianlong. The intertwining dragons on the seal are slender yet poised full of energy and assertiveness. Scales along the backs of the dragons are irregular in height. The heads are slightly raised and look straight ahead. Their intertwining bodies are also clearly defined; the carving refined, and the polish is flawless and smooth. In style it corresponds to the Manchu script golden seals, which are national seals, inscribed with Fengtian zhi bao (Seal of Receiving Heaven's Mandate) and Tianzi zhi bao (Seal of the Son of Heaven) housed in the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Kangxi yubi zhi bao (In the Imperial Hand of Kangxi) seal sold in 2003 at Beijing Huachen. All of these seals are of the typical early Qing intertwined dragon style. The seal base seems somewhat low. Emperor Qianlong apparently had the carver delete the original inscription and had the face recarved anew. This is what makes the seal special. Large seals were usually made for imprssions to suit large works. It is possible that this seal was made for large bian'e (horizontal inscribed name tablets) in the Palace.

Sotheby's. Legacies of Imperial Power: Qianlong Imperial Seals from the Estate of Emile Guimet. 08 Oct 08. Hong Kong. www.sothebys.com