Antique Stone Seal with Carving Depicting a Turtle. China, 19th Century

This fine article is a veined-stone Chinese seal, an antique and very special piece in really good condition. The seal comes from China and was made in the 19th century, maybe earlier. The stone it is made of is white and with orange and black veins, is finely carved by hand. The stamp has a vertical rectangular base on top of which there is a small figure depicting a turtle. The base is carved with an embossed Chinese inscription designed to stamp an inscription or signature. The ideograms are also carved by hand and look well preserved. The rectangular base bears a series of hand-carved ideograms in its front side, performed with precision and style. On top of this base we find the figure of a turtle, an animal sculpture with a fierce face and an astonishing beauty. The turtle is standing on some wavy shapes that depict water and moves its head to look at the front. The animals shell and its scaly skin are carved in detail, creating a magnificent figure with a striking lively look. The entire piece is worn and polished by the party where it is held, by years or decades of use. The turtles chin is adorned with a long beard, similar to those that characterize Chinese traditional dragons. In ancient China, the turtle symbolized longevity so this beard could be a detail bound to enhance this feature. Turtles were also symbols of good luck and discretion. At the stamps base we can see the embossed carving designed to stamp the inscription, an intricate set of ideograms dyed by the red ink or sealing wax used for a long time. Original and beautiful, this ancient Chinese stone seal is a piece that deserves to become part of a good collection of singular pieces. Measurements: Width: 1.7 in / 4.5 cm. Height: 3.9 in / 10 cm.