Page 264 - Christie's Fine Chinese Paintings March 19 2019 Auction

1767
TWO HAN-STYLE ROCK CRYSTAL SEALS
QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)
Fashioned after Han-dynasty bronze prototypes, each seal has a handle in the The studio name carved on the smaller seal, Sanyouxuan (Studio of Three
form of an arched tile. The larger seal is carved in intaglio on the seal face with Friends), belonged to the namesake studio which was built by Emperor
a seven-character phrase, ling qu chun wen he qie ping (receiving the warmth Qianlong in 1774. Sets of three seals, carved from the same material and in
of spring with peace), and the smaller is carved on the seal face with a three- a similar style, with one bearing the name of a palace or a hall, and the other
character studio mark, Sanyouxuan (Studio of Three Friends). two carved with phrases taken from classical works or poems, were popular
3¿ and 2 in. (8 and 5 cm.) square at the Qing imperial court. It is very possible that the present two seals
(2) originally belonged to a set as such.
$8,000-12,000
清 仿漢瓦鈕水晶印璽一組兩件
印文：三友軒 領取春溫龢且平
PROVENANCE
Valentine Everit Macy (1871-1930) Collection, by repute.
For a discussion on Valentine Everit Macy, see the footnote to lot 1764.

The poetic inscription seen on the seal face of the larger seal was taken from
the imperial poem Listen to Tang Kang playing qin, composed by Qianlong
and recorded in Siku Quanshu (The Complete Library of the Four Treasures),
vol. 13.

(seal faces)