Page 126 - Sotheby's Qianlong Calligraphy Oct. 3, 2018

The present pair of ‘realgar’ overlay white glass seals, the Confucius classic Xiaojing [Classic of family reverence or
simulating translucent jade with a russet skin, is skilfully classic of filial piety], which states that (translated by Henry
modelled with chilong not dissimilar to those on imperial seals Rosemont, Jr. and Roger T. Ames, The Chinese Classic of
reserved for the emperor. It was probably made for a royal Family Reverence: A Philosophical Translation of the Xiaojing,
family member who regained his noble designation in the late Honolulu, 2009, ch. 3: The Hereditary Lords, p. 106):
Qianlong period.
When the hereditary lords are not arrogant, though of lofty
The inscription on one of the seals reads Su Qinwang bao status they are not in jeopardy of being toppled. When they
(Treasure of Prince Su), referring to a title granted first to are frugal and impeccable in their conduct, though sufficient in
Haoge (1609-1648), a member of the imperial family and their resources they are not extravagant.
grandson of Nurhaci, founder of the Qing dynasty. Having The present pair of seals was possibly made not only to
distinguished himself through military exploits, Haoge was celebrate the reclamation of the designation, but also to serve
bestowed with this princely title with the designation Su in as a reminder of virtue appropriate to a prince.
1636 and appointed to one of ‘The Eight Banners’, before he
was accused of mendacity. This resulted in his demotion, The design of the three-chilong finial on the present pair is
which was only revoked posthumously. Although the rank closely related to that of Ziqiang buxi (‘Never stop improving’)
was handed down to Haoge’s descendants, the designation and Bazheng maonian zhi bao (‘Treasure of concern over
Su was replaced by Xian until the 43rd year of the Qianlong phenomenon at eighty’), kept together in a box with the seal
year (1778), when the posthumous title Su was given to Mo yun shi (‘Studio of inky clouds’) and illustrated in Lasting
Haoge’s descendants and inherited by Yongsi (d. 1821). Impressions: Seals from the Museum Collection, National
The inscription zhijie jindu (‘to spend in moderation, to act Palace Museum, Taipei, 2007, p. 72 (see also the essay for lot
according to regulations’) on the other seal is an excerpt from 3205, fig. 4).