Large set of yellow jade carved seals ‘Directional Beasts’, Han dynasty

Exceptional set of five seals with bases, carved from pale yellow-green jade. The piece is a superb representation of the imperial cosmological order, with the central power (the Emperor) flanked by the four directional guardians.

The handle of the central seal is sculpted in the round as an Imperial Dragon. At the four corners, the smaller seals are crowned by the Four Auspicious Beasts (四象): the Dragon (East), the Phoenix (South), the Tiger (West) and the Dragon Tortoise (North), guardians of the four celestial quadrants.

The plinths of the five seals, as well as the elaborate architectural base that houses them, are profusely decorated in bas-relief with a dense and intricate archaic geometric pattern framing four taotie masks. The base also features small archaic-style incense burners carved in the round between the plinths.

The matrix of the central seal reveals a relief carving of four characters in archaic script: ‘劉弘印璽’. The matrices of the smaller seals also feature inscriptions. Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD).

Size: 6.6 x 2.9 x 2.8 cm (x4); 10.3 x 5.5 x 5.5 cm (x1); 16.5 x 15 x 13 cm

Total weight: 1681 g

Provenance:

· Important collection from Tommy Lam, Hong Kong, since 1980