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I've owned this seal for a long time. Could anyone provide info on this item?
Thanks,
Paul

don't know what happened to the pics in the original post

Pics in link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58498242@N03/sets/72157626262808986/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58498242@N03/sets/72157626137808345/

Hi Paul, this looks like a nice seal, perhaps Japanese, I can't quite make out the legend from your photos. Can you post another photo of the impression made by the seal?

I suggest that both seals are Chinese.

The first looks a very fine stone carving - a better photo would give more detail so we might identify the subject. The face appears to read Yi Yang Zhe Yin. Yi is not a family name that I can find, but is an old name for a part of Shandong province ; Yang is a family name ; Zhe generally means person ; and Yin means seal. �a���̦L (Code Big 5). Hence, possibly "Mr Yang from Shandong's seal".

The second seal looks as if it could be bronze. The face appears to read Zhi Zhe Yue Ji ���̤�X, which would probably be a Leisure seal with a meaning something like "The wise person says little". (Please forgive my clumsy translation.)

Clean impressions would make the reading easier, but can be hard to make if not experienced.

Thanks to Rat and Mike. Wow, i've really learned so much on these items.
I'll try to get the impressions, and post them soon.
Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Paul

I separated these 2 seals up and upload more pictures from Flickr;

1st one:attempted to get the impression mark

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58498242@N03/sets/72157626262808986/

2nd one: no impression mark on paper

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58498242@N03/sets/72157626172449599/

They are both bronze.
Thanks all again for your expert opinion.
Sincerely,
Paul

I am still reasonably happy with my interpretation of the second seal (see above).

The first seal I can now see clearly and it reads (anticlockwise from top right) Zhang Yi Yang Yin. A name seal for a Mister Zhang. Nicely designed and well made.

Thanks Mike!

hello Mike,
could you please tell me how old they are?
Thanks,

Bronze seals have been made in China for more than 2,000 years. These are not that old, but they could be anything from late Qing (19th century) to relatively modern.

They both seem to be quality, and the casting of the animal on the larger seal is spectacular. But I cannot give you any definitive information on their age.

Thanks again Mike! Greatly appreciated!

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