IMPERIAL SEAL IN SPINEL GREEN JADE, China, Qing dynasty, Jiaqing period (1795 - 1820) Rectangular in cross-section, the top finely carved with a dragon holding a sacred pearl, the underside bearing four characters Ji Gu Guan Lan 汲古观澜 H.7 cm (2 ¾ in.) L. : 6,4 cm (2 ¼ in.) l.3.6 cm (1 in.) Provenance: French private collection since the end of the 19th century Then by descent in the same family An imperial spinach-green jade "Ji Gu Guan Lan" seal, China, Qing dynasty, Jiaqing period (1795 - 1820) 清嘉庆 碧玉龙钮玺 印文：汲古观澜 Jiaqing was the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty. For a time during his twenty-five-year reign (1795 - 1820), Qianlong, Jiaqing's father and fourth emperor, still held decision-making power, which enabled Jiaqing to inherit a greater number of systems from the Qianlong era, particularly in the artistic field, and in particular in the attention paid to porcelain, jade, goldsmithing, embroidery, etc. Jiaqing's production and use of seals was similar to that of his father Qianlong, who commissioned a wide variety. According to court reports, there were many types of imperial seal under the Qing dynasty, covering a wide range of areas. They can be divided into several types: function, patronymic, reign title, palace seal, poem, etc. Although these seals have different characteristics, they share a common value, reflecting the emperor's thoughts and interests. This seal is rectangular in shape, with the top carved with a powerful dragon. It holds a swollen chest, head slightly raised, looking straight up, manes flying, scales finely chiselled and four heavily carved claws. The underside bears four Ji Gu Guan Lan汲古观澜 characters, which translates as "Draw from the Ancients and contemplate the depths of things". The idea expressed is that studying antiquity and referring to the Ancients helps to understand the root cause of events and inspire political action. The expression Jigu汲古 can be traced back to an ancient-style pentasyllabic poem 五言 古诗 by Han Yu韩愈 (768 - 824 ) from the Tang dynasty, one line reads: 汲古 得脩绠 "To draw lessons from the Ancients, take a good rope". Guanlan观澜 from Mengzi孟子 (Book of Master Meng) XIII-24. Master Meng said, Master Kong climbed Mount East and found the principality of Lu insignificant; he climbed Mount Tai and found the world small. For those who have seen the ocean, rivers are hardly worth talking about; for those who have learned from a wise man, common talk is not worth considering. There is a way of looking at rivers: pay attention to the big waves they make. 孟子曰: "孔子登东山而小 鲁，登泰山而小天下。故观于 海者难为水，游于圣人之门者 难为言。观水有术，必观其 澜 。" The impression of the present seal Ji Gu Guan Lan 汲古观澜 appears in Fascicule IX (Jiaqing II), p. 124 A, of the Qingdai dihou xiyinpu 清代帝后玺 印谱 (Great Seals of the Rulers and Empresses of the Qing Dynasty). Jiaqing is the fifth emperor of Qing dynasty. During his twenty-five-year reign (1795 - 1820), for a time, his father Qianlong, the fourth emperor, still held decision-making power, which allowed Jiaqing to inherit large systems of the Qianlong era, especially in the field of art, such as porcelain, jade, metal works, enamel, embroidery, etc. In the production and use of seals, Jiaqing, like his father Qianlong, ordered a wide variety. According to court records, there were many types of imperial seals in Qing Dynasty, covering a wide range of areas. They can be divided into dignity, surname, reign title, palace seals, poem etc. Although these seals have different characteristics, they share a common value which reflects the thoughts and interests of the emperor. The present seal has a rectangular shape, the top carved with a powerful dragon. The raised chest and head, looking straight, flying manes, fine scales and strongly carved claws. The bottom is inscribed with the four characters Ji Gu Guan Lan汲古观澜, which translates as "Draw from the Ancients and contemplate the depths of things", The idea expressed is that the study of Antiquity and the reference to the Ancients allows to understand the root cause of events and inspire political action. The expression Jigu汲古 dates back to an ancient style pentasyllabic poem 五言古诗 by Han Yu韩愈 (768 - 824) of Tang dynasty, a verse says: 汲古得脩绠 "To draw lessons from the Ancients, take a good rope". Guanlan观澜 from Mengzi孟子 (Book of Master Meng) XIII-24. Master Meng said: Master Kong climbed the East Mountain and found the principality of Lu negligible; he climbed Mount Tai and found the world small. For those who have seen the ocean, rivers are hardly worth talking about; for those who have studied with a sage, the words of the common people do not deserve consideration. There is one way to look at waterways: pay attention to the big waves they make. 孟子曰: " 孔子登东山而小鲁， 登泰山而小天下 。故观于海 者难为水，游于圣人之门者 难为言。观水有术，必观其 澜 。" The imprint of the present seal Ji Gu Guan Lan汲古观澜 appears in fascicule IX (Jiaqing II), p. 124 A, from Qingdai dihou xiyinpu清 代帝后玺印谱 (Great Seals of the Sovereigns and Empresses of Qing Dynasty). Jiaqing was the fifth emperor of the Qing Dynasty. During a period of his twenty-five year reign (1795 - 1820), Qianlong, Jiaqing's father and fourth emperor, still held decision-making power, which enabled Jiaqing to inherit a greater number of systems from the Qianlong era, particularly in the artistic field, and in particular in the attention paid to porcelain work, jade, goldsmithing and embroidery, etc. Jiaqing's production and use of seals was similar to that of his father Qianlong, who commissioned a wide variety. According to court reports, there were many types of imperial seal under the Qing dynasty, covering a wide range of areas. They can be divided into several types: function, patronymic, reign title, palace seal, poem, etc. Although these seals have different characteristics, they share a common value, reflecting the emperor's thoughts and interests. This seal is rectangular in shape, with the top carved with a powerful dragon. It holds a swollen chest, head slightly raised, looking straight up, manes flying, scales finely chiselled and four heavily carved claws. The underside bears four Ji Gu Guan Lan汲古观澜 characters, which translates as "Draw from the Ancients and contemplate the depths of things". The idea expressed is that studying antiquity and referring to the Ancients helps to understand the root cause of events and inspire political action. The expression Jigu汲古 can be traced back to an ancient-style pentasyllabic poem 五言 古诗 by Han Yu韩愈 (768 - 824 ) from the Tang dynasty, one line reads: 汲古 得脩绠 "To draw lessons from the Ancients, take a good rope". Guanlan观澜 from Mengzi孟子 (Book of Master Meng) XIII-24. Master Meng said, Master Kong climbed Mount East and found the principality of Lu insignificant; he climbed Mount Tai and found the world small. For those who have seen the ocean, rivers are hardly worth talking about; for those who have learned from a wise man, common talk is not worth considering. There is a way of looking at rivers: pay attention to the big waves they make. 孟子曰: "孔子登东山而小 鲁，登泰山而小天下。故观于 海者难为水，游于圣人之门者 难为言。观水有术，必观其 澜 。" The impression of the present seal Ji Gu Guan Lan 汲古观澜 appears in Fascicule IX (Jiaqing II), p. 124 A, of the Qingdai dihou xiyinpu 清代帝后玺 印谱 (Great Seals of the Rulers and Empresses of the Qing Dynasty). Jiaqing is the fifth emperor of Qing dynasty. During his twenty-five-year reign (1795 - 1820), for a time, his father Qianlong, the fourth emperor, still held decision-making power, which allowed Jiaqing to inherit large systems of the Qianlong era, especially in the field of art, such as porcelain, jade, metal works, enamel, embroidery, etc. In the production and use of seals, Jiaqing, like his father Qianlong, ordered a wide variety. According to court records, there were many types of imperial seals in Qing Dynasty, covering a wide range of areas. They can be divided into dignity, surname, reign title, palace seals, poem etc. Although these seals have different characteristics, they share a common value which reflects the thoughts and interests of the emperor. The present seal has a rectangular shape, the top carved with a powerful dragon. The raised chest and head, looking straight, flying manes, fine scales and strongly carved claws. The bottom is inscribed with the four characters Ji Gu Guan Lan汲古观澜, which translates as "Draw from the Ancients and contemplate the depths of things", The idea expressed is that the study of Antiquity and the reference to the Ancients allows to understand the root cause of events and inspire political action. The expression Jigu汲古 dates back to an ancient style pentasyllabic poem 五言古诗 by Han Yu韩愈 (768 - 824) of Tang dynasty, a verse says: 汲古得脩绠 "To draw lessons from the Ancients, take a good rope". Guanlan观澜 from Mengzi孟子 (Book of Master Meng) XIII-24. Master Meng said: Master Kong climbed the East Mountain and found the principality of Lu negligible; he climbed Mount Tai and found the world small. For those who have seen the ocean, rivers are hardly worth talking about; for those who have studied with a sage, the words of the common people do not deserve consideration. There is one way to look at waterways: pay attention to the big waves they make. 孟子曰: " 孔子登东山而小鲁， 登泰山而小天下 。故观于海 者难为水，游于圣人之门者 难为言。观水有术，必观其 澜 。" The imprint of the present seal Ji Gu Guan Lan汲古观澜 appears in fascicule IX (Jiaqing II), p. 124 A, from Qingdai dihou xiyinpu清 代帝后玺印谱 (Great Seals of the Sovereigns and Empresses of Qing Dynasty).