There is a long history of field-yellow stone collection. In late Ming and early Qing dynasties, field-yellow stones were adopted as imperial use because of special orange yellow belongs to royalty. It is regarded as secret treasure and is called mild gold. Emperors in Qing dynasty (1644-1911) love field-yellow stones dearly. For example, the three imperial field-yellow stone chained seals of emperor Qianlong are so to speak as national rarity. Thus, field-yellow stone possesses praise of “Throne of stones” and “King of stones”. That is what is called “Field-yellow stone is equivalent to gold”.
Field-yellow stone is at the top of Chinese four famous stones and is produced in Shoushan town of northern Fuzhou city in Fujian province. There are many different color and degrees of field-yellow stone, comprising golden yellow, orange yellow, loquat yellow, wood-oil yellow and so on. Among all, golden yellow and orange yellow are the most high-level, moist, rare, and precious field-yellow stones.
Field-yellow steatite belongs to field-yellow stone presents vitelline color, which is top of the line and exceptional treasure. These were usually used for paying tribute to royal house in Chinese history.
This pair of seals with design of auspicious dragon spewing pearl is made of golden yellow field-yellow steatite. The stone skin is slightly transparent and the texture is clearly glittering. Implied inner radish or tangerine skin veins pervious to light will appear in outer layer of stone skin.
There is a saying that “Grand view on style; Meticulous view on decoration; Microscopic view on skill”. This pair seals has skillful carving, no matter linear or detailed carving. This rare and distinct artwork contains excellent features of steady knife skill, perfect curve, and orderly decoration. Highly polished sleekness presents either powerful or delicate impressions.
The seal handle demonstrates an auspicious dragon crouching down in the corner. The mouth of dragon is spewing out fire pearl above water. Vast and animated billows appear beneath the dragon. Four sides of seal below the dragon handle are also carved with patterns of walking dragon.
In Chinese culture, dragon not only represents the Chinese people but meaning of auspiciousness, greatness, and holiness. Therefore, seals with dragon decoration symbolize imperial sovereign in supreme status in virtue of vitality and full-mouthed power from dragon.
The bottom of first seal is applied with relief carving. Twenty seal characters were read from right up to left down. The literary work has meanings as below.
“Once in a while under pine tree.
Pillowing on a stone in sleep. Free from date in mountain field. No idea of time when winter ceased.”
This literary piece “Da Ren” is a renowned poem in Tand poetry.
The author is “Tai Shang Yin Zhe”. This poem depicts the leisure and relaxation of secluded life in the mountain.
This relief carving is to raise surface design of characters in relief. Then, Zhu Wen presents red characters on paper after affixing seal.
The bottom of another seal is also applied with relief carving. Twelve characters are demonstrated from right to left and are translated as follows. “Pouring wine and expressing feeling in Yang pavilion. Singing out loud and disarraying in Yan city.”
This poem expresses liberal and bold feeling.
