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Subject:Yellow Soapstone Chop Seal, Dragon Bird Finial
Posted By: Kevin Donnelley Thu, Sep 22, 2016 IP: 69.120.62.142
Hello All,
An attractive yellow stone chop seal with red/ brown inclusions, "dragon bird eating" finial with soft edges for a tactile feel in the hands
Size: 7.9cm H x 1.9cm square
I would greatly appreciate your comments so that I may learn more about this piece, many thanks
Kind regards

Kevin







Subject:Re: Yellow Soapstone Chop Seal, Dragon Bird Finial
Posted By: mikeoz Fri, Sep 23, 2016
Looks like a nice piece of shoushan stone, nicely carved top. Pity about the crude and artless printing face. 祿 means happiness, but is relatively meaningless in this context.

Subject:Re: Yellow Soapstone Chop Seal, Dragon Bird Finial
Posted By: Kevin Donnelley Fri, Sep 23, 2016
Many thanks for the post

Subject:Re: Yellow Soapstone Chop Seal, Dragon Bird Finial
Posted By: Bill H Sat, Sep 24, 2016
Hi Kevin & Mike,

This character, pronounced "Lu", is the name of one of the Daoist "Star Gods" trio, Fu-Lu-Shou (福, 祿, 壽), who respectively are arbiters of Good Fortune, Career & Salary, and Longevity. I wonder if some innovative seal-carver might only be selling them in sets of three, figuring nobody would want to risk an offense by purchasing just one.

Cheers,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Yellow Soapstone Chop Seal, Dragon Bird Finial
Posted By: Super Sat, Sep 24, 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanxing_(deities)

Subject:Re: Yellow Soapstone Chop Seal, Dragon Bird Finial
Posted By: Super Sat, Sep 24, 2016
Luxing

The star of Lu (禄), Luxing 禄星, is ζ Ursa Majoris, or, in traditional Chinese astronomy, the sixth star in the Wenchang cluster, and like the Fu star came to be personified. The Lu star is believed to be Zhang Xian who lived during the Later Shu dynasty. The word lu 禄 specifically refers to the salary of a government official. As such, the Lu star is the star of prosperity, rank, and influence.

The Lu star was also worshipped separately from the other two as the deity dictating one's success in the imperial examinations, and therefore success in the imperial bureaucracy. The Lu star is usually depicted in the dress of a mandarin.

Subject:Re: Yellow Soapstone Chop Seal, Dragon Bird Finial
Posted By: Kevin Donnelley Mon, Sep 26, 2016
All,

Many thanks for your posts- truly grateful for the experience

Kind regards

Kevin

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