Loquat yellow field-yellow stone seal with handle of Chihu looking right rear

Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
Length：4.7cm
Width：4.7cm
Height：8.5cm
Weight：290g

The square seal showed yellow color like loquat and had some radish veins under auburn shade. This smooth and crystalline texture constructed an extraordinary artwork.

The handle was shaped as a sitting Chihu turning the head to the right. The Chihu looked forward with bright eyes and opened mouth with revealed teeth. It held a string of antique coins with the mouth. Two forked and curled horns were combined with a string of hair and were closely toward the back. Besides, there were traits of hunch back, curled forktail, sharp claws, and powerful muscle. All of these displayed a forceful, lively, and mighty image.

Four seal sides applied low relief that depicted a pair of auspicious dragon encircling “longevity” amongst cloud sea. The exquisite carving expressed amusing taste.

Seal bottom was carved with seven characters by embossment. The sentence meant “Blossom occurs all over the city in springtime” and was from “The day of No fire” by Han Hong in Tang dynasty (618-907).