Seal

Beautifully carved antique Chinese stamp, also known as a chop, dating from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic period, circa 1880–1930. The object is handcrafted from a natural-quality soapstone and has developed over decades a warm, honey-like ochre-yellow color with a deep patina of age. The stamp weighs 213 grams and measures 7.9 cm in height, 4.9 cm in width and 2.9 cm in depth. The top is intricately and refinedly openworked with a traditional depiction of two mythical lions, or Foo Dogs, facing each other with a perforated brocade ball between them as a symbol of protection and cosmic harmony. The deeper areas of the sculpture are accented with a dark tone to further emphasize the dynamics of the carving. Around the smooth body of the stamp lies a refined, incised shanshui landscape depicting a classic Chinese scene with trees, vegetation, distant mountains and a small pavilion, with the relief lines washed in with dark pigment for optimal contrast. The most unique and historically interesting aspect lies on the underside of the lot. In the bottom, a hand-cut inscription in the traditional seal script is engraved, still showing clear traces of the original vermilion seal ink. The seal shows the Chinese characters 艾爾曼, which in modern script is written as 艾尔曼 and phonetically stands for the Western name Erman, Armand or Herman. This confirms that this is a fascinating piece of Chinese export art, produced at the time specifically on commission for a Western diplomat, trader, or traveler who resided in China. The object is in excellent antique condition with only minimal, characteristic signs of age that emphasize the authenticity of the natural stone.

Dimensions: 7.9x4.9x2.9 cm
Weight: 213 g