QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
HEIGHT: 4.5CM
The seal is of square section, surmounted by a finial worked in the round
depicting two dragons writhing amongst swirling vaporous clouds. The ferocious
beasts are detailed with bulging eyes and heavy eyebrows, their mouths are
opened to reveal sharp fangs. The stone is of a translucent creamy white tone
suffused with dark brown veins. The seal face is carved with an inscription
reading Tianlu yongchang 天祿永昌 (“May Heaven’s benefits flourish forever”).
The text is a variant of Analects (Lunyu 論語) 20:1:
堯曰：「咨！爾舜！天之曆數在爾躬，允執其中！四海困窮，天祿永終。」
Yao said: “Oh! You Shun! Heaven orderly succession now depends on you. May
you hold firmly to the mean. If all within the Four Seas should suffer hardship
and poverty, Heaven’s benefits will end forever.”
| 清中期 白玉蒼龍教子紋方印 |
