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 |
