A SUPERBLY CARVED TIANHUANG 'TIGER' SEAL 17TH/18TH CENTURY

of square section forming a pedestal for a superbly carved recumbent tiger, its muscular body curled up on its haunches and its head resting upon its forepaws, its face framed by small pointed ears and its features well defined, its fur delicately picked out with finely incised lines, the long tail curled up and spread over its right haunch, later incised to one side with the characters Tongzhi Guisi dong hou xiang Wang Yun (corresponding to 1863), the seal face carved with the characters Yun shan qing xian le wo xin ('The tranquil landscape of the clouds and mountains brings happiness to my heart'), the stone of a rich honey-orange colour with superb translucency

Apart from a few minor nicks due to use and handling to the edge of the seal face and a minute 1mm nick to the tiger's left ear, the overall condition is very good. The actual color is slightly less orange and a touch more yellow than in the catalogue illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The exceptional richness and translucency of the tianhuang stone and the skilled and naturalistic carving of the creature make this seal special and rare.  The treatment of the tiger with its subtly defined muscles and textured fur testifies to the consummate skills of the carvers at the time, possibly from the Shoushan area in Fujian province, where the precious tianhuang stone was mined.  The soapstone, known as tianhuang, has long been considered as the rival material to the finest and purest jade used for making items for Imperial use.  The word shou from Shoushan means 'longevity' and the word fu of Fujian means 'fortune', hence tianhuang conveys the message of good fortune and longevity.  It is also worth noting that tianhuang was traditionally valued according to weight rather than its size, making it one of the most expensive materials for works of art.

Tianhuang seals depicting tigers are extremely rare, and no other similar example appears to have been recorded.  Compare a tianhuang seal of a recumbent elephant, offered in these rooms, 2nd November 1998, lot 486.  The composition and highly naturalistic and meticulous treatment to the surface of the elephant is closely related to that of the present piece.