CHINA, seals
    It seems that people were making documents of a sort before they invented writing, but as soon as they did they started using these things to put their "mark" on their statements.  This puts the earliest of them back before 3500 BC.  They are still in use in all of the literate cultures, some more than others.

Note: all of these sold items went before 2002 and prices are significantly higher in 2007 when I'm writing this.
CHINA, TANG Dynasty, 618-907, bronze seals.  Supplier says they're Tang, I say why not?  All have a ring on the back.
a) 43mm $24.00 sold
b) 33mm $19.50 sold
d) 22mm $18.50 sold
l) 22mm diameter, back loop missing, $17.00 sold
n) 22mm, rough, $16.00 sold
o) 29mm diameter, $24.00 sold
p) 34x26mm, $24.00 sold
Click picture for enlargement.

q) 17x19mm, maybe that's a lion.  This is a whole different category of quality, VF $75.00 sold
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

r) QING dynasty, c. 1900, brass seal in shape of an ugly dog or lion, 15mm square & 28mm tall, some wear from use, late 19th c.?, VF $45.00 sold
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

s) late QING, 19th c., mottled red soapstone seal with dog top, 20x20x50mm, poem written on 2 sides, couple of scratches, F $36.00 sold 7/6/2009
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

t) QING, 19th c.?, soapstone seal, 68mm tall, 23mm square base on which a sage is crouching, the characters are worn, the sage is F $45.00
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CHINA, late 19th - early 20th c., soapstone seal, 51x25x25mm, 2 bats kissing on top, 2 minor chips on edge, VF $35.00 sold 7/6/2009
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CHINA, late 19th - early 20th c., soapstone seal, 56x34x15mm, forepart of tortoise on top, VF $45.00 sold 7/6/2009
Click picture for enlargement.
 
 








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