A carved tianhuang 'deer' seal. Qing dynasty - Photo Sotheby's

of rectangular section, the knop very finely carved in openwork as a recumbent stag, raising its head toward the sky with its antlers trailing behind, its hindlegs neatly tucked under and its forelegs folded in front with one knee raised, the spotted fur finely detailed with incised hairs, the seal face carved with the four characters in seal script reading yan nian yi shou ('to prolong life and be good for longevity'), the translucent stone of warm orange-honey tone with typical paler streaks, Japanese wood box inscribed with hakogaki; 7 cm., 2 3/4 in. weight 112 g. Estimation: 500,000 - 700,000 HKD - Lot. Vendu 6,020,000 HKD

PROVENANCE: A private Japanese collection.

EXHIBITED: Sen Cha Dogu. Noh Dogu Meihin Ten [Exhibition of Sencha Tea ustensils and Noh costumes, masks and instruments], Osaka Bijutsu Club, 25th/26th May 1994, no. 64.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Hong Kong | 09 oct. 2012 www.sothebys.com