A magnificently carved ivory seal Ming Dynasty, Yongle period

of square section, the seal forming a plinth for a finely carved chilong with its muscular body sharply turned back on itself as if chasing its long birfurcated tail, crouching on all four legs each with three sharp talons, its facial features finely picked out, with pointed ears lying flat against its long mane with finely incised locks of hair, a single long scrolling horn extending from its forehead down the length of its ridged spine, the seal text reading ren bu xue bu ru wu (if one does not learn, it is not worth living)

Eskenazi Ltd. 

The present seal is an extremely rare and particularly fine example of early 15^th century seal carving and, indeed, there are few existing examples of the period. The strength of the carving – showing the toned musculature and expressiveness of the beast -, as well as the soft, dynamic flow of the posture, captures the spirit of the period, which permeated all art forms, whether porcelain, lacquer or bronze. 

Compare an ivory seal from the Collection of Sir Herbert and Lady Ingram of Driffield Manor sold in our London rooms, June 8^th 1993, lot 155, carved on the top with a lion standing foursquare. The style of carving on the Ingram seal appears slightly stiffer and one may associate the quality of the carving on this seal more closely with a large commemorative Imperial jade seal made for Empress Wen, the consort of Emperor Yongle, sold in these rooms, October 31^st 2004, lot 15, which remains the only surviving Imperial Ming jade seal. The similarity in carving is particularly evident in the treatment of the bulging eyes, heavy eyelids and brows, and gently flattened snout.

The carving of ivory during the Ming dynasty stemmed from the traditions of the Song and Yuan dynasties, when craftsmen carved tusks from Southern China – mainly Guangxi, Yunnan and present day Vietnam – as well as from Western Asia and Southeast Asia. Ivory carvings were much admired during the Ming dynasty; the Gegu yaolun (Essential Criteria of Antiquities) documents the interest in various objects, such as concentric ivory balls and combs.