A GILT-BRONZE 'MYTHICAL BEAST' SEAL QING DYNASTY, 18TH – 19TH CENTURY |

of square section, the finial cast in the form of a mythical beast rendered with characteristics of a qilin and the shell of a turtle, portrayed with its head turned to the left, depicted with a prominent snout below a long curved horn, the diapered shell supporting books incised with floral motifs, the seal face with a four-character inscription reading qian shou yi tang

Cai Guosheng, Yinzhang sanqian nian [Three thousand years of seal carving], Shanghai, 1999, pl. 9.
Huang Baoqing and Lin Guoqing, eds, Zhongguo yin. Si da ming shi. Shoushan shi [Chinese seals. The four great types of stone. Soapstone], Fuzhou, 2006, p. 7 (left).

The seal is in good condition with minute nicks to the edges, and original casting imperfections to the underside of the beast and top of the seal.
"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 slow movement of the tortoise symbolises steadfastness and immutability, thus images of tortoises were popular surmounting pillars and personal seals, often depicted supporting stone tablets or books containing the edicts of emperors (see Terese Tse Bartholomew, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, 2006, p. 226). Tortoise seals are known from as early as the Qin dynasty and increased in popularity during the Han dynasty where they were cast in gilt bronze and gold; see a Han version illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Seals in the National Palace Museum, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 43.