LATE QING TO REPUBLIC PERIOD (C. 1880�1920)
A FINE TWO-PIECE STATIONERY SET CARVED FROM A DENSE, HIGH-CLARITY HARDSTONE WITH THE STRUCTURAL HARDNESS AND LUSTER OF JADE. THE SET INCLUDES A MASTER SEAL AND A COORDINATING WATER VESSEL OR TRAY OF FLUID, UNDULATING FORM. THE VESSEL IS DECORATED WITH A HIGH-RELIEF CHI DRAGON CLAMBERING ALONG THE RIM AND FEATURES A DEEPLY INCISED FOUR-CHARACTER SEAL SCRIPT INSCRIPTION TO THE UNDERSIDE READING CH�NGL� W�IYANG AN AUSPICIOUS HAN-STYLE BLESSING MEANING “EVERLASTING HAPPINESS WITHOUT END.” THE MASTER SEAL IS SURMOUNTED BY A CROUCHING MYTHICAL BEAST AND BEARS THE FOUR-CHARACTER FACE P�NGCH�NG SH�D�, IDENTIFYING IT AS BELONGING TO A PRESTIGIOUS HOUSE OF THE LIU CLAN.
APPROX. 6.5 IN LONG
CHINESE HARDSTONE ‘PENGCHENG’ SCHOLAR’S DESK SET
LATE QING TO REPUBLIC PERIOD (C. 1880�1920) A FINE TWO-PIECE STATIONERY SET CARVED FROM A DENSE, HIGH-CLARITY HARDSTONE WITH THE STRUCTURAL HARDNESS AND LUSTER OF JADE. THE SET INCLUDES A MASTER SEAL AND A COORDINATING WATER VESSEL OR TRAY OF FLUID, UNDULATING FORM. THE VESSEL IS DECORATED WITH A HIGH-RELIEF CHI DRAGON CLAMBERING ALONG THE…