Jade seal carving "Poems and Dragons", Qing Dynasty

Seal carved in two-coloured jade, in off-white tones with ochre inclusions and natural veins, crowned by a group of intertwined dragons in high relief. The figures have undulating bodies, well-defined scales and expressive heads with horns, moustaches and open jaws, following the traditional iconography of the Chinese imperial dragon. The tails and limbs of the creatures intertwine to form a compact whole. The four lateral sides of the lower block are engraved with poetic inscriptions.  The quadrangular base of the seal is carefully polished and features engraved characters in relief, possibly for personal or institutional use.

The combination of script and carving, together with the symbolic character of the dragon as an emblem of authority and protection, indicates that this piece may have belonged to a person of high rank. Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) or later

Size: 8 x 8 x 8 cm

Weight: 1100 g