Vintage Shoushan Stone Seal With Mythical Beast Motif and Calligraphy

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Description

A substantial Chinese scholars' seal carved from warm, rich red-brown Shoushan stone with an oily, lustrous patina. The square plinth … Read more A substantial Chinese scholars' seal carved from warm, rich red-brown Shoushan stone with an oily, lustrous patina. The square plinth is surmounted by a finely rendered double-beast finial: a recumbent mythical lion (foo dog) with a smaller cub nestled against its back, both modeled with alert, expressive faces, curling manes, and sinuous, well-defined musculature.

The stone itself shows a smooth, even grain with natural tonal variations ranging from deep amber-red to softer russet, characteristic of well-handled Shoushan material. One vertical face of the plinth bears incised running-script calligraphy with a cyclical date and a signature, carved in low relief — a quiet, scholarly detail that reinforces the object's literati character.

The base is fully cut in traditional seal script. A small braided silk cord emerges from the beast's back, suitable for display or for holding when inking the chop.

This piece works as a functional studio seal, as a paperweight, or as a sculptural scholar's object on a bookshelf, desk, or curio cabinet. Its warm, saturated color makes it a striking accent against both modern and traditional interiors. See less