OBJECTS FOR THE SCHOLAR'S DESK, Hong Kong 2009
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Scholar's Implements

A SOAPSTONE SEAL

QING DYNASTY, 17-18TH CENTURY

HEIGHT: 5.3CM

The knop of the pale beige soapstone is finely carved in the form of a mythical beast. Two horns protrude through the mane and the ridge of the spine is detailed along the back towards a bushy tail curled around the foot. The seal base has a six-character incised mark ‘renguo shi kanxi‘ 忍過事堪喜 (‘if you can bear what happens, you still can be happy’) – a verse from the poem Qianxing 遣興 “Venting My feelings,” by Du Mu 杜牧 (803-852).

清十七-十八世紀壽山石瑞獸印 《忍過事堪喜》款