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Lot
Number
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J000039 |
| Lot
Title |
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Jade Carving Seal Chop with Animal Figure |
| Date
of Origin |
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Ming Dynasty |
| Country
of Origin |
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China |
| Material
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Jade |
| Measurements |
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2.8 x 2.8 x 2.8 cm |
| Lot
Quantity |
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1 |
| Estimate |
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| Description:
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It's a round shaped chop with animal figure. I bought this piece long time ago because I like it's primitive simplicity style and colors. The chop is not really big, but with rigid and strong feeling. Especially, the head of the animal is carved so vivid and lovely. The white jade is covered by black color with inside in red, at least from Ming or Song dynasty. The chop with some letters carving, but I couldn't figure out the wording, even questioning many people in the field.
Feb. 2008, when I was browsing around the jade market in Taipei, I saw another piece of square shaped chop with animal figure. I thought this is a great opportunity and wonderful chance to put a round and a square chops together as a pair.
Mr. Chow, who sold me the squared chop, also knows well about seal cutting, so I asked him to check the cutting for me. He looked at the chop for a while and stamped the chop on the paper saying this could be a word puzzle with several letters together. Finally, he shout out that's it, definitely it's "Hu Fong" for official to use as a confidential seal during letter communication in ancient time.
I then again looked at the chop. Yes, he is right, it's with "Hu Fong" two words. I have been trying to figure it out for the past 10 years, and suddenly found out the answer. Once you know the answer, you think it's so easy and make you feel so happy and delightful. Feel really good.
From a round shaped chop with animal figure to find out another square shaped chop with animal figure, and finally figure out the seal cutting answer, what a great affinity.
Think about that, in the ancient time, this piece could be an official seal to an officer or general stamping on many of confidential martial secret and letter exchanges. What a collection. |
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| Condition
and Additional Specification: |
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「護封」是用於密封書信內容的印章，先秦及秦、漢的印章多用作封發物件，把印蓋於封泥或信的封口之上，以示信封完好，未經開拆, 防止私拆洩密。早期一般使用的是姓名印，到了漢以後出現了專門用於書信的印章。其印都用「護封」、「封完」等字，這在篆刻中稱之為書簡印。「護封」印一直沿用到民國時期。 |
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