Small jade seal, "Bird and turtle", Western Han Dinasty

Small white jade seal composed of two bodies that are joined together to form a single, larger seal.

The bigger seal has a carved turtle shell on the top, sitting on its four legs. The inside of the shell is empty, as well as the proper structure of the seal, allowing a second piece to be fitted in: a smaller seal with a bird carved on its top with great detail that shows the beak, opened eyes and the wings folded over its body. 

The meticulousness with which the detail have been carved stand out, such as the turtle little claws, the shell hexagonal patterns or the wings covered with bird feathers, among others.

A carved seal appears on its base 张龙印玺.

In Chinese culture, the turtle has a large symbology; firstly, it is associated to the world's creation, since it is considered one of the Four Supernatural Creatures, thus associating its shell with the celestial vault or sky, and its flat belly with the earth. In addition, the turtle is a symbol of longevity and strength. Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD)

Size: 4.6 x 2.9 x 2.9 cm

Weight: 54 gr

Provenance: Collection of Tommy Lam, Hong Kong, from 1980.-Previous owner of lot: 48, (Imperial white jade "ziqiang buxi" seal, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736 - 1795)) Auctioned: Important Hong Kong Collection, Tommy Lam - Asian Art. 25 October 2023. Darley Auctions.