Page 87 - Sothebys HK Dragon Emperor April 2024

The album printed and edited according to the instructions sixth month of the same year, Bai Shixiu again sent in 40
of the Emperor was an extremely important step in the pieces of various styled and sized jade seals, and one album
process of putting into order and evaluating the ancient placed in a zitan wood box. The Emperor ordered that an
jade seals. The work of many people in this undertaking is approved dragon incised seals be made accordingly. This
evident. Generally speaking, to produce and edit such an record confirms the content of the Qianlong’s poem, “Song
album and print copies of the ancient seals, a transcription of the Han Jade Seals” written in the 20th year of his reign.
of the emperor’s calligraphy, or his poems and the essays In order to make these 40 pieces of jade seals, Qianlong
of his officials and attendants are indispensable. In addition was very much concerned with every step in the course
to enhance the sense of appreciation of the albums, a of making, which lasted for half a year, having put forward
transcription of the emperor’s calligraphy and the imperial specific requirements, and revised samples many times.
paintings, or the calligraphy of officials and attendants and Another record notes that on the 28th day of the ninth
their paintings needed to be added. According to archival month of the 32nd year of Qianlong’s reign, Tai Jian sent in
records of the Neiwufu, “on the fourth day of the seventh 2 boxes, rectangular in form, made of engraved zitan wood
month of the 18th year of Qianlong’s reign, Bai Shixiu sent with jade inlay. In each box, 8 jade seals were placed. Each
in essays for the Emperor’s portrait in 5 pages, attached box was two-tiered with drawers. The Emperor ordered that
with 10 pieces of Han jade and one sample of an album. The the jade seals be placed in the lower drawer fitted to match
Emperor ordered that the album be sent for mounting to the the seals and that in the top drawers 2 albums be placed
Mi Hall. From this record, it is clear that the album was made so that the sample could be presented for review. Qian
for the 10 pieces of jade that the Qianlong Emperor collected Weicheng, Jiu Rixiu, Wang Jihua were ordered to write one
the year before. Another record notes that ‘on the 10th day character and draw one painting. Any old characters found
of the fifth month of the 20th year of Qianlong’s reign, Bai on the seal was to be rubbed off. On the 1st day of the tenth
Shixiu reported that the official Hu Shijie sent in 40 pieces of month, Shi De and Wu De sent in 2 pieces of rectangular,
jade seals of different sizes and styles. The Emperor ordered zitan wood, tailor- made boxes, containing 8 jade seals. The
that a five- storied box be made to match the jade seals, with Emperor approved the samples and gave an order to grind
the bottom page be left blank. At first, samples were made the jade seal thinner to get rid of the old characters on the
for approval. The mounting was changed at Bo Gu Ge. On the seals.
14th day of the fifth month, Bai Shixiu and Su Wen sent in 40
pieces of various sized and styled jade seals, with samples of Among all the albums made, it is rare to find an album that
6 drawer boxes attached; a box was made for the album. The contains such a variety of information on the emperor’s seal
Emperor ordered that seals be placed in 4 boxes, 10 pieces collection. From Qianlong’s poem it is possible to date the
in each box, the album in one box, all together 5 boxes be album to the period between the Spring of the 22nd year of
sent to Mao Qin Hall. On the 27th day of the fifth month of his reign (equivalent to 1755 A.D.) and the 23rd year of his
the same year, the Emperor ordered that a cover be made reign. The present album is a historical treasure that reflects
for the boxes, the album be placed in the top drawer, and the Qianlong emperor’s enjoyment in his collection.
that a pattern be drawn for approval. On the 2nd day of the

* originally published in Imperial Peking. The Last Days, Sotheby’s, Hong Kong, 2007, pp. 52-55.

乾隆晚期御璽鈐印
Impressions of three seals of the late Qianlong period