A large soapstone seal

Qing dynasty
17th / 18th century

Of pale yellow color and pebble-like shape, carved in the form of a reclining sea-dragon standing on scrolling waves, the flat base carved with the raised archaic characters 明 月 松 间 照 清 泉 石 上 流.

The inscrition is taken from a famous Chinese poem, which can be translated to "The moon lights up the pines, a spring flows on the stones".

Length: 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm.)
Width: 2 in. (5.2 cm.)
Height: 2 1/2 in. (5.6 cm.)

Provenance: Private collection, Chicago

Ref. 980104

Price on Request