A PAIR OF IMPERIAL SPINACH-GREEN JADE 'DRAGON' SEALS QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

one of square form, surmounted by a boldly and finely carved dragon, the beast finely carved with a broad, muscular body crouching on its haunches accented with sharp talons in ambush and ready to pounce, the facial features very well defined with bulging eyes and flaring nostrils above a curled beard and below pointed ears and a single horn at the forehead, the slender, contoured backside with a knobbly spine sweeping back to a long bifurcated tail curling below its left haunch, the seal face crisply carved with the characters Bazheng maonian zhi bao ('Treasure of the Eighty-year old who concerns himself with the Eight Signs'); the other of rectangular form and similarly carved with a crouching dragon, finely carved with the characters Maoqin dian ('Hall of Profuse Diligence') framed between a pair of stylised qilong dragons, the translucent stone of a deep fern-green tone speckled with olive-green and black intrusions

Removed from the Shouhuangdian (Hall of Imperial Longevity), Beijing, 1900.

Bazheng Maonian zhibao (square seal): Apart from a 1mm bruise to one edge of the seal face and a couple minute nicks to the top of the seal along the edge, the overall condition is very good. Maoqin dian (rectangle seal): Apart from a couple minute nicks to the dragon's eyebrows, the overall condition is very good. The actual colour of the seals is very close to the colour illustrated in the catalogue. The 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."

Both seals belong to a set of three seals.  The square seal is carved with the characters Bazheng maonian zhibao (Treasure of the Eighty-year old who concerns himself with the Eight Signs) and was to be impressed on the end piece of calligraphies and paintings.  The rectangular seal is carved with Maoqin dian (Hall of Profuse Diligence).  It is a Yinshou zhang; it was used to make impressions at the right top corner of a painting or piece of calligraphy.

The main seal Bazheng maonian zhibao and secondary seal Ziqiang buxi (Self-strengthening Never Ceases) are matched with a seal carrying the name of a Palace Hall.  Such an arrangement is basically for the purpose of placing this set of seals in designated places in the Palace.  Maoqin Dian is located the middle section of the Forbidden City, north of Qianqing Gong (Palace of Heavenly Purity).  It is an important place in the Palace where academic stationeries are kept.  According to archival records, 'all stationeries relating to study purposes are kept here'.  Of course, the stationeries include the imperial seals.  Shen Chu recorded in the fourth chapter of Xiqing Biji (Notes of Xiqing) "all bronze, jade and stone imperial seals are kept in Maoqin Dian.  There is a volume of Bao Sou (Thicket of Seals)'.  Whenever calligraphies and paintings with imperial handwritings were done, the relevant ministers would choose the appropriate seals and stamped them on the works".  During the Qing dynasty, calligraphies and paintings after authentication would be sent to Maoqin Dian for seal impressions.  It is very likely that this set of seals was placed in Maoqin Dian after they were made.