元 白玉臥龍鈕「弘闡佛宗」方璽

of square section with shallow sides, surmounted by a deftly worked crouching dragon in openwork, the ferocious beast depicted with rounded eyes, flaring nostrils and mouth agape revealing sharp fangs, with horns flanking a neatly combed mane sweeping back joining its bushy tail curled along its arched spine, its finely incised limbs terminating in powerful claws, the seal face crisply carved in archaic script with a four-character inscription reading hong chan fo zong (‘to spread the teachings of Buddhism’), the translucent stone of an even greyish white tone

倫敦蘇富比1997年12月2日，編號97

There are some expected minute bruises and nicks to the edges. The seal is otherwise in good condition.
"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."

此印透雕蹲龍為鈕，其目圓瞪，鼻上翹，曲軀細頸，利爪緊捏印邊，躍躍欲動，悍猛有勁，展現蒙帝天威，且巧用天然玉色，化瑕為瑜，誠元代玉印佳例。

據《新元史》，元朝宮廷印章，受禮部嚴格監督，材質、樣式、大小，俱依制而造，乃身份地位之象徵，如帝師、國師之級可授玉印。拉薩西藏博物館仍存元代帝君授予帝師、國師之龍鈕玉印，但龍姿各異，鐫八思巴印文，見《雪域藏珍：西藏文物精華》，上海博物館，上海，2001年，編號1，以及《聖地西藏：最接近天空的寶藏》，台北，2010年，編號077-079。

然除西藏博物館所藏，傳世元代龍鈕玉印甚罕，但仍有數例可資參考，如北京故宮博物院藏長方印，同雕龍爪握邊，圖見《故宮博物院藏品大系玉器篇》，卷5：唐宋遼金元，北京，2011年，圖版266，並錄另一方印，尺寸稍大，但龍鈕雕飾較簡，圖版267。東方陶瓷學會展覽又曾見一例，卻斷代明初，見《Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages》，維多利亞與艾爾伯特博物館，倫敦，1975年，編號342。又有一例展於《Dr Newton's Zoo: A Study of Post-Archaic Small Jade Carvings》，倫敦，1981年，編號46。Alan and Simone Hartman 伉儷舊藏還有一印，2006年11月28日於香港佳士得拍出，編號1357，後再售於香港蘇富比2015年10月7日，編號1908。

清代宮廷，有用前朝印寶改刻御璽的做法。愛米爾．吉美（1836-1918年）舊藏璽，龍鈕為元朝之作，姿態與此相近，清初改刻印面「雍正御筆之寶」作御璽，後售於香港蘇富比2011年10月5日，編號1908。

此印印面以九疊篆刻「弘闡佛宗」。據錄有一印文與此接近之青玉螭鈕印，以小篆刻「大闡佛宗」，現藏拉薩羅布林卡，尺寸略小於此，但乏玉印照片，未知鈕式，斷代為清，見歐朝貴及其美，《西藏歷代藏印》，拉薩，1991年，頁93下。九疊篆，唐朝已有，常見於宋元官印。