A 'TIANHUANG' SOAPSTONE SEAL IN SHAPE OF A FISH DRAGON ABOVE WAVES AND INSCRIPTIONS

Description:

China, inscribed and dated 1899
ca. 5 x 3,3 x 2,2 cm
Amber-coloured soapstone, rectangular shape. Finely carved in the shape of a fish dragon with a floating flaming pearl above waves. A twelve-character inscription on one side: "I am so lucky to have found this stone on the day of the winter solstice in the jihai year (1899)". Bottom engraved in seal script in relief (yang wen): Yanling xinshang. Weight: 65 gr.
European private collection, according to the current owner acquired before 2007 - Very minimally damaged, matching storage box with a poem inscription
Pan Yanling, courtesy name Jian'an, was born in Panyu, Guangdong during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, and was a collector of calligraphy and painting