Bảo vật của Càn Long được bán hơn 19 triệu USD

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Imperial (hoàng đế) soapstone seal (ấn)

Inscription: “Qianlong yulan zhi bao” (“admired by his Majesty the Qianlong Emperor”)

Created in Qing dynasty, the 'lion' finial, Kangxi - early Yongzheng period, the seal face, Qianlong period

7.8 x 7.8 x 10.7 cm

Sale: A Journey Through China’s History: The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection

Sold: HK$153,334,000 (US$19.5 million)

The most expensive seal sold at auction in Asia

The seal was carved (khắc, tạc) by a skilled craftsman (nghệ nhân) working for the Qianlong Emperor’s father Yongzheng (Ung Chính) or grandfather Kangxi (Khang Hy). After ascending the throne (lên ngai vàng) in 1735, Qianlong selected this seal for the all-important purpose (mục đích) of recording the finest works in his art collection.

This soapstone seal can be found notably impressed on countless important Chinese paintings, including the two most revered (kính trọng) classical (kinh điển) masterpieces (tuyệt phẩm, tuyệt tác, kiệt tác), namely Fan Kuan’s Travellers among Mountains and Streams (Khê Sơn lữ hành của Phạm Khoan) and Guo Xi’s Early Spring (Tảo Xuân của Quách Hy), both dating from the Northern Song dynasty.