Page 158 - Sothebys HK Dragon Emperor April 2024

This seal is an imperial heirloom. Masterfully carved at
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此方寶璽造於大清帝國之始康熙朝，代代相傳歷經二
the dawn of the Qing empire, during the Kangxi period, it 個世紀，朝代覆沒之際，終賜予遷離紫禁城的末代皇
was passed down for generations and, two centuries later, 族，見證滿清之榮衰。
bestowed upon one of the last royals to have vacated the
Forbidden City.
此璽主人赫舍里氏，學識淵博，以才貌著稱，後
It was the seal of a lady of culture. Known for her beauty and
education, Lady Hešeri, the later Dowager Imperial Noble 晉為敬懿皇貴太妃（1856-1932年），1872年，同治
Consort Jingyi (1856-1932), entered the Forbidden City in （1856-75年，1861-75年在位）年間，以瑜嬪身分進
1872 as Concubine Yu of the Tongzhi Emperor (1856-75, r. 宮，同治帝歿後，投身詩樂，亦熱衷畫山水、墨蘭，
1861-75). The Consort survived her Emperor and devoted 鈐個人閒章於上，多件作品現存於北京故宮博物院
her long widowhood to poetry and music. She was also an （郭福祥，《明清帝后璽印》，北京，2002年，頁
avid painter of landscapes and orchids. These artworks
must have been impressed with her seals, many of which are 187）。博學多聞，個性堅毅，皇貴太妃乃晚清皇室
still preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing (Guo Fuxiang, 的重要人物。
Ming Qing dihou xiyin [Imperial seals of the Ming and Qing
dynasties], Beijing, 2002, p. 187). Knowledgeable, well- 皇貴太妃學養極佳，裕德齡（1881-1944年）初次於
versed and determined, she was an influential figure of the 紫禁城中拜會太妃，其居所簡樸素靜，皇貴太妃談吐
late Qing dynasty. 高雅，學貫中西，音樂造詣高超，德齡回憶曾讀過多
The Consort was considered the best-educated lady in 首皇貴太妃所作詩詞。皇貴太妃提倡女子教育，提高
China. When Princess Der Ling (1881-1944) met her in a 識字率。她雖支持改革，「卻抵制任用外國傳教士作
minimally furnished abode in a quiet quarter of the Forbidden
City, she was deeply impressed by the Consort’s exceptional 為教師，畏其宗教目的，或會阻礙中國進步」（裕德
intelligence, musical talents and ‘knowledge of Western 齡，《清宮二年記》，紐約，1911年，頁321-22）。
countries and their customs’. The Princess recalled reading
several of her sentimental poems. The Consort was also a 1900年，外國聯軍攻入京師，慈禧太后攜光緒帝出
visionary advocator for female education and campaigned 逃，卻留下多數同治帝的遺妃於宮中。敬懿皇貴太妃
to improve illiteracy among young girls. Despite her support 據傳總攝宮中事務，以勇氣與決心穩定朝廷。總掌大
of reforms, she ‘was not in favour of employing missionary
teachers’ for fear that their religious agenda ‘would set the 權的慈禧太后過世之後，皇貴太妃逐漸開始挑戰隆裕
Chinese against the movement’ (Princess Der Ling, Two 太后，嶄露雄心，最終解任權臣端方（〈Tuan Fang’s
Years in the Forbidden City, New York, 1911, pp. 321-322). Degradation: A Woman’s Influence and a Selfish Dynasty
When the foreign troops marched into Beijing in 1900, the Responsible for It〉，〈The Awakening East〉，《New
Consort was left behind by the fleeing Empress Dowager York Times》，1910年1月2日，頁8、12）。自同治至
Cixi (1835-1908), who had mostly neglected the widowed 宣統，三朝歲月中皇貴太妃長住於紫禁城中，直到
concubines of Tongzhi. The Consort was said to have 1924年，末帝溥儀與皇室被迫遷出。
led the remaining imperial household with courage and
determination. Upon the death of Cixi, who had kept a tight
grip on the reins of power, the ambitious Consort started 寶璽印面應琢於1913年，溥儀晉皇貴太妃封號時。取
openly challenging the authority of Empress Dowager 清初舊璽為材，不知是遜帝所選或是皇貴太妃自選。
Longyu (1868-1913), eventually resulting in the dismissal of 寶璽以單塊檀香木雕成，異獸鈕蹲踞於上，肩背以卷
the notable official Duanfang (see ‘Tuan Fang’s Degradation: 紋相飾，一足略抬，彷若抓搔姿態，生動洋溢，展現
A Woman’s Influence and a Selfish Dynasty Responsible for 康熙朝工藝水平之高。北京故宮博物院藏一件康熙帝
It’ and ‘The Awakening East’, New York Times, 2nd January
1910, pp. 8 and 12). For three reigns, from Tongzhi to 的檀香木璽，形制與本品類同，印文「育德勤民」，
Xuantong, the Consort resided in the Forbidden City and only 藏品編號：故00166445。另一例，印文「敬天勤民」
moved out when the royal family, including Puyi (1906-67), ，2016年4月5日售於香港蘇富比，編號3101（圖一）
was forced to vacate the Palace in 1924. 。比較皇貴太妃的另一寶璽，晚清風格印鈕，現藏於
The seal face must have been carved around 1913 when 北京故宮博物院，藏品編號：故00167522-3/3。
Puyi bestowed on her the Imperial Noble Consort Jingyi
title. Whether it was a generous gift from the abdicated last
emperor or a choice of the influential Lady, the antique seal
was selected and repurposed. Carved from a single block
of wood, surmounted by a stoutly built recumbent mythical
beast with shoulders and haunches defined with stylised
scrolls, animated with one of its four-toed paw feet raised
as if to scratch itself, the present seal demonstrates the
unparalleled artistry of the Kangxi period. A comparable
tanxiangmu seal of the Kangxi Emperor, surmounted by
a similar mythical beast, with the inscription yude qinmin
(‘cultivate morality and serve thy people’), is in the Palace
Museum, Beijing, accession no. Gu 00166445. Another
example, with the inscription jingtian qinmin (‘revere Heaven
and serve thy people’), was sold in these rooms, 5th April
2016, lot 3101 (fig. 1). Compare another seal of the Consort,
but with a late Qing dynasty knob, still preserved in Beijing,
accession no. Gu 00167522-3/3.
fig. 1. A imperial tanxiangmu ‘Jingtian qinmin’ seal,
Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, Sotheby’s Hong
Kong, 5th April 2016, lot 3101
圖一 清康熙 康熙帝御寶檀香木異獸鈕「敬天勤
民」方璽 香港蘇富比2016年4月5日，編號3101
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