1

The seal represents an imperial dragon in red porfido stone. On the lateral of the base, it seems that is written "Year of the dragon, Hu Zhengyan", the 1584-1674, printer, artist and seals carver.

  1. On the base of the seal is in the "Small Seal Script", imperial red background. That I do not know how to decipher. It should be the name of the nobleman to whom the seal was carved for signature.

I would like to know what it says.

small script seal writing

Many thanks in advance Aurelio

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

It is a seal, you have to flip the image to see the correct text

enter image description here

桐 = 桐樹 (tung tree)

雨 = rain

樓 = building

桐雨樓 /Tóng yǔ lóu/: Mansion Tung and Rain

Edit:

I did a search and now I think 桐雨樓 may not be a building but an artist's or an art house's name. It is more likely for a person or organization to have a seal instead of a building having one

From ArtFox

Home > Auction >  香港星辉国际拍卖有限公司艺术品拍卖会 秋季拍卖网拍—中国书画专场网拍  >  金石篆刻—中国名家印章 >  Lot.138 奚岡刻桐雨楼平头章

中国名家印章 = China's famous artist's seal

桐雨樓 should be transliterated as Tong Yu Lou /Tóng yǔ lóu/

enter image description here

Improve this answer
4
  • Thank you Tang. You are right, in seals you have to use the mirror image. Tung is the oil tree. So in theory, it is the seal of a nobiliary family mansion or has another meaning in chinese culture?.
    – Aurelio RZ
    Dec 22, 2021 at 10:26
  • Dear Tang, Mansion Tung and Rain: it is the seal of a nobiliary family mansion or has another meaning in chinese culture? Thanks in advance.
    – Aurelio RZ
    Dec 23, 2021 at 11:08
  • @Aurelio RZ see my edition
    – Tang Ho ♦
    Dec 23, 2021 at 11:24
  • We have: 庚辰年 胡正言 Geng Chennian Hu Zhengyan: Year of Dragon, Hu Zhengyan. The seal says: 桐雨樓 /Tóng yǔ lóu/: Mansion Tung and Rain. The famous printer, artist and seal carver Hu Zhengyan made this seal for the “Mansion Tung & Rain” in 1640. He was at the end of the Tang Dynasty and Beginning of Qing. We found as well the seal at ARTFOX Auction House, with the same “Mansion Tung & Rain” seal, in Shoushan stone (which seems to be the same in ours), by Xi Gang (1746-1803), seals craver, calligraph and painter by the Qing Dynasty. What is “Mansion Tung & Rain”?
    – Aurelio RZ
    Dec 30, 2021 at 10:19

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.