Page 263 - Christie's Fine Chinese Paintings March 19 2019 Auction

1766
TWO ROCK CRYSTAL SQUARE SEALS
QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)
Each seal is carved on top with a two-horned mystical beast, pixiu. One seal The present two seals are very similar in style and size to a rock crystal
face is carved in intaglio with a fve-character phrase, qin shu dao qu sheng seal carved with a mythical beast fnial and dated to the 19th-early 20th
(joy from the dao of music and literature), and the other with a four-character century, with a six-character inscription Youzhenyixuan zhi bao (Treasured
phrase, yun jue chi zhong (take the course of moderation). by The Truly Satisfying Studio) on the seal face, formerly in the collection of
Larger: 2 15/16 in. (7.4 cm) square William Crozier (1855-1942), illustrated in “The Crozier Collection Part 1:Rock
(2) Crystals,” The Philadelphia Museum Bulletin, vol. 40, no. 203, (Nov., 1944), pl.
$20,000-30,000 IX, and now in the collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art, accession no.
1944-20-12.

PROVENANCE The inscription on the larger seal, qin shu dao qu sheng, is recorded in
Valentine Everit Macy (1871-1930) Collection, by repute. Guochao hongshi xubian (Reigning dynasty palace history sequel), vol. 62, as
part of a poetic couplet composed by Qianlong in renzi year (1792).
For a discussion on Valentine Everit Macy, see the footnote to lot 1764.
The inscription on the smaller seal, yun chi jue zhong, originated from
Rock crystal, a pure and transparent variety of quartz, is called shuijing Zhongyong (Doctrine of the Mean), one of the four classic works based on
(‘water essence’) or shuiyu (‘water jade’) in early Chinese writings because of Confucian philosophy.
its resemblance to ice, and its preciousness comparable to jade. It is a
very dificult medium with which to work, as the original material needs to be 清 水晶貔貅鈕方璽一組兩件
sawed and chipped down, and then fne details were executed with a
印文: 允持厥中 琴書道趣生
bow drill.

(seal faces)