Carved jade seal ‘Xuanwu’, Han dynasty

A carved jade seal with a rectangular base, surmounted by a sculptural group in high relief consisting of a tortoise and a snake. The turtle, depicted with great naturalism, appears in an upright position with its head turned backwards, looking towards the snake, which is coiled in a dynamic attitude with its jaws open. This scene symbolically alludes to the union of the Black Warrior (Xuanwu 玄武), one of the four celestial deities in Chinese cosmology. The body of the seal is incised with a ‘leiwen’ (雷紋) geometric pattern, characteristic of high-status ceremonial pieces. On the base is an inscription in seal-style calligraphy indicating ‘廣陵王玺’, a noble title recorded during the Han dynasty, used by members of the imperial family invested with regional authority.

The iconography suggests meanings associated with longevity, protection and imperial authority. The surface shows darkened patina and chromatic alterations typical of ageing jade. Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) or later.

Size: 9 x 4.2 × 5.2 cm

Weight: 446.6 g

Provenance:

· Collection of Tommy Lam, Hong Kong, from 1980