FORMERLY IN A PRIVATE GERMAN COLLECTION *A SHOUSHAN STONE ‘QILIN’ SEAL INSCRIBED WITH - GUĀNG MÍNG ZHÈNG DÀ WÉI RÉN - 光明正大為人- GUĀNG MÍNG ZHÈNG DÀ WÉI RÉN - BE UPRIGHT AND HONEST CHINA, QING DYNASTY Carved out of a stone with tones ranging from grayish shades to honey shades, of square section with round corners, with a high gradient base surmounted by a coiled mythical breast, likely a Qilin also known as Chinese unicorn. The base bears the inscription ‘光明正大為人’ (‘Guāng míng zhèng dà wéi rén’, lit. ‘Be upright and honest’). H: 8,8 cm – Side: 5,3 cm Weight: 691,6 grams Provenance: - a private collection; - bought at a public auction in Middle Europa in the 2010s; - a German private collection, acquired between the 1930s and 1950s in China and East Asia. Notice to potential bidders: A complete scholar study of the seal has been made and is available upon request. Please contact the department to receive it. Notes: 1. Also part of the same German private collection were a Yongle period blue and white porcelain bowl sold for €100,000, a painting after Lan Ying 藍瑛 (1585-1664) sold for €23,750 and a painted fan after Tang Yin 唐寅 (1470-1524) sold for €20,000. 2. This precise seal inscription and seal are not recorded. 3. Despite point 2., of interest is that this inscription is also to be found in the Forbidden City (紫禁城) on a panel hanging in the Palace of the Heavenly Purity also known as Qianqing Palace (乾清宫). 4. The Emperor Yongzheng had a seal with the inscription ‘Upright and Honest’, which is mentioned in many books, and also recorded in the ‘Yongzheng Baosou’, a catalogue of imperial seals preserved in the collection of the Guimet Museum in Paris. 5. According to the ‘Veritable Records of the Yongzheng Period’ (Yōngzhèng shílù - 清實錄.雍正朝實錄), the Emperor Yongzheng pronounced seven (7) times during his reign the sentences ‘Guangming Zhengda’ (enlightenment and justice) et ‘Zhengda Guangming’ (righteousness and justice), including four (4) times as proverbial oracles: 1724.9.3, 1724.9.19, 1724.10.8 and 1726.7.2. IMPORTANT NOTICE: *This lot is under temporary importation. An extra VAT will be applied to the final invoice. The rate will depend on the final country of destination. The sole buyers based in Ireland will be subject to an extra 13,5% VAT. Please contact our office (yuchen@adams.ie) for further information. 寿山石刻-光明正大为人 中国，清代 NOTE: CONDITION REPORTS AND MEASUREMENTS It is up to the bidder to satisfy themselves prior to buying as to the condition of a lot. In relation to Condition Reports, whilst we make certain observations on the lot, which are intended to be as helpful as possible, references in the condition report to damage or restoration are for guidance. The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. The condition report is an expression of opinion only and must not be treated as a statement of fact. Measurements and weight are approximate and the potential bidder may re-ask it to be checked when asking for a condition report.