A metal alloy official's seal, guanfang


Dated by inscription to Guangxu twenty-first year corresponding to 1895Heavily cast and of rectangular section, the top incised on the right with Da Qing qinchai chushi dachen guanfang libu zao in Han Chinese and a parallel inscription in Manchu incised on the left; the intaglio underside with a similar inscription in elaborate kedou or archaistic seal script reading Guangxu qinchai chushi dachen guanfang, the sides incised with the date Guangxu ershiyi nian jiu yue and an inventory number 1,458 (reading Guang zi yi qian si bai wu shi ba hao); with replacement gilt-painted composition handle.4 3/4in (12cm) height overall
|A translation of the Han Chinese inscription on the top would be: 'A seal for the imperial envoy on a diplomatic mission for the Great Qing, manufactured by the Ministry of Rites.' For a similar piece from the Qianlong era, see Sotheby's, London, 11 May 2011, lot 259.