A SUPERB PAIR OF IMPERIAL WHITE JADE 'DRAGON' SEALS QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

each of rectangular form, surmounted by a finely carved dragon, the beast powerfully carved in meticulous precision with eyes bulging and nostrils flaring above long curling whiskers, the scaly body tightly coiled crouching on its haunches with a 'flaming pearl' in between its front paws and surrounded by dense cloud swirls, the scales and flowing mane finely incised with its long tail coiled on its backside, one seal face finely and crisply carved with the characters Bazheng maonian zhi bao ('Treasure of the Eighty-year old who concerns himself with the Eight Signs'); the other with the characters Wufu wudai tang, Bazheng maonian bao ('The Hall of Five Blessings and Five Generations, Concerned with the Eight Signs'), the translucent white stone of an extremely pure, even tone throughout

Removed from the Shouhuangdian (Hall of Imperial Longevity), Beijing, 1900.
Acquired at Galerie Langweil, a leading gallery in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. 

Bazheng Mao Nian Zhibao: There is an old 4mm chip to one of the edges on the seal face and two minute bruises on the opposite side. There are a couple minor nicks to the extremities of the seal including along the top edges of the seal, the right whisker, the right eyebrow, and a few of the edges of the mane and clouds. Wufu Wudai tang, Bazheng maonian bao: There is an old 4mm chip to one of the edges on the seal face. The top of the seal has a few minute nicks to the mane and to the tip of the whiskers. The actual colour of the stone is very close to the catalogue illustration. The two seals are carved from the same piece of jade.
"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."

One seal face is carved with the characters Bazheng maonian zhibao (Treasure of the Eighty-year old who concerns himself with the Eight Signs), and the other is carved with the characters Wufu wudai tang bazheng maonian bao (The Hall of Five Blessings and Five Generations, Concerned with the Eight Signs). 

Wufu wudai Tang (The Hall of Five Blessings and Five Generations) is a room in Jingfu Gong (Palace of Great Blessings).  Emperor Qianlong had a great-great-grandson in the forty-ninth year of his reign [1784] and all five generations were together in one Hall. Hence, he wrote the calligraphy Wufu wudai tang on a bian'e (horizontal inscribed name tablets) in the fifty-second year of his reign [1787] and had it hung in the Palace.  Wufu wudai tang ji (Record of Five Blessings and Five Generations Hall) was also produced where Emperor Qianlong said "I was blessed to have a great-great-grandson where five generations are in one Hall.  This is a rare auspicious matter in ancient or modern times.  In ancient times, the blessed person may name a Hall to commemorate the occasion.  Thus, Wufu wudai tang is an appropriate name for the Hall that I am going to name."  He also ordered the making of Wufu wudai tang bao to commemorate the occasion.  During the preparation for Emperor Qianlong's eightieth birthday, Bazheng maonian zhi bao was combined with Wufu wudai tang to become Wufu wudai tang bazheng maonian zhi bao while the seal of Bazheng maonian zhi bao was being carved.  This is an important record about Emperor Qianlong being surrounded by descendents at the age of eighty.

According to the Neiwufu ge zuocheng zuo huoji Qingdang (Qing Archives Concerning Arts and Crafts Made in All Parts of the Imperial Household Workshops), "Twentieth day, tenth month, fifty-fourth year of Qianlong [6 December 1789], the yuanwailang (vice-director) Dadase, the cuizhang (foreman) Shu Xing,  and the bitieshi (clerk) Fahai came to report: 'The eunuch E Luli delivered three pieces of greenish white jade each of which is labelled in ink yinshou bao [seals to make impressions at the right top corner of a painting or piece of calligraphy], along with three sheets of paper each containing an yinshou type seal impression facsimile.  Three seals are to form one set, and eight such sets are to be inscribed respectively with the following texts:  Xiangyong wufu "By Heaven's Granting we enjoy the Five Blessings", Bazheng maonian zhi bao "Treasure of the Eighty-year old who concerns himself with the Eight Signs" and Ziqiang buxi "Self-strengthening Never Ceases."  Two single seals are to be inscribed respectively, Wufu wudaitang bazheng maonian zhibao and Bazheng maonian zhi bao. It is decreed 'Send the stones to Suzhou to have them carved.  Make eight sets of Yinshou bao seals for the three seal set and also make the two single seals.  Do this with all haste.  As soon as one set is finished send it back first.  Have this done as ordered. The three pieces of greenish white jade are from the Qixiang gong (Let Auspiciousness Arise Palace), one piece weighs thirty-four catties, one twenty catties, and the third weighs four catties and eight taels. On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month in the fifty-fourth year of the reign [7 February 1790] eight sets of yinshoubao seals and the two single seals arrived from Suzhou and were taken to the Maoqin dian (Hall of Profuse Diligence).  Entry complete."  The two single seals mentioned here in the archives are this very pair of seals.  Therefore, we know that they too were made in the tenth to twelve months of the fifty-fourth year of Qianlong, carved at the same time as the eight sets of Bazheng maonian zhi bao seals.  Although the seals were made in a short time, the workmanship was not impaired.  The carving is meticulously accurate and the workmanship is of the highest refined standards. Moreover, the pair is very well matched.  Great attention was paid to their design: viewed at whichever angle from the four sides, the body of the dragon, the 'flaming pearl' and cloud patterns were all in strict mirror image of each other, demonstrating the high standard of craftsmanship.  These two seals were often used after they were carved, for we can still see many impressions from them on old paintings and pieces of calligraphy housed in the palaces of the Qing rulers.