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Recently acquired wood box containing agate seal and enamel jar with red seal wax. The wood box says "Created by Professor Zhu Naizheng". Perhaps this was an art project? The top of the seal and the enamel jar show a logo that he may have designed. I was wondering if anyone is able to translate the red seal stamp? Zhu Naizheng is a relatively famous artist from China who passed away in 2013. Thanks !

This is a promotional gift from General Motors, perhaps from the GM joint venture in China. The GM mark is the international company logo, but I doubt it was designed in China.

The seal stone does look as if it is agate, which then would explain why the image on the base was executed with laser cutting rather than traditional carving technique.

The material in the small pot is not wax, but could be either oil-based or water-based 'ink' to be used with the seal. Judging from the pinkish stain on the stone I think it is more probably the water-based variety.

Thank you for your reply. That makes sense. The symbol on the top, which is also on one side, is a trademark/symbol that I have been unable to find anywhere else. It is a most interesting logo created by Prof Zhi Naizheng. The small circle has abstract familiarity of old double dragons while the inside appears as a conjoined double cong with a diamond finial with a heart enclosed if one were to look at his logo closely. A work of art by a master. I wonder what the bottom seal mark means? Thanks for your reply. Here are a few more pics of it.

Seal reads,
甬庵　-　Yongan

I do have two interpretation of the meaning,
1, Could be a name transliteration of a foreign name
into Chinese e.g. Youngan
2, In Chinese 甬　refers to Ningbo (Ningpo) and the 庵　means hut or cottage, therefore could have a meaning of a "Ningpo Cottage". I don't know whether GM does have any outlet in Ningpo City.

With regards,
I.Nagy

Corrections,

1,
I just noticed that the circle surrounding the 甬
character is broken in two places which makes the
rounded up form of Radical No. 162 辶　"Movement".
辶+甬　＝　通 Tong, open, through etc.

2,
The other character rather reads 菴　"an"　in meaning same as 庵 (hut, cottage)

Therefore the whole seal reads 通菴　Tongan
a, Transliteration of foreign name ?
b, "Tong" cottage

Note, in this case I read the seal from left to right　because this character is on the top of
seal ink pad. Furthermore, in case of modern seals
this is usual.

With regards,
I.Nagy

I would like to sincerely thank you, I. Nagy, for your time and effort in helping us on Asian Arts Forum. It is very kind of you to share your substantial knowledge and wishing you the best in these trying times.

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