A SPINACH GREEN JADE DOUBLE-DRAGON SEAL, QING China, later 19th century. The massive square base is surmounted by a pair of intertwined recumbent dragons, serving as handle, with a central piercing. Each bear ribbed horns and an open jaw revealing their menacing teeth, below a ruyi-shaped nose and bulging eyes. Provenance: From a German family whose grandfather reputedly acquired the seal during his tenure as a soldier in Shanghai during the late 1900s. Thence by descent. Sold at Kunsthaus Lempertz, Cologne, Auction #892, June 9th, 2006, lot 266. Then in a private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Superb condition with old wear and fine patina. Microscopic nibbling here and there. The seal face with remainders of red seal paste. Weight: 1137.8 grams Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 8.3 cm The mineral is of fine and even dark green color with a few black inclusions. The face bears minutely carved square four-character seal in low relief, reading: WEI YAO ZE ZHI. It has been suggested that the present seal is from a small group relating to a seal from the Kangxi period, used when visiting the Yao temple, but appears to be 19th century in terms of carving techniques applied and stone used. Both the Guangxu emperor and Empress Dowager Cixi were recorded as having visited the Yao temple and this seal may have been carved for one of them. The meaning of the inscription goes back to the legend of the mythological emperor Yao who abdicated in favor of Shun, who after long years of rule eventually ceded the throne to Yu the Great. Confucians saw these two examples as paradigms of how the rule over the world should be organized. Confucius himself praised Yao: It is only Heaven that is grand, and only Yao corresponded to it (Wei tian wei da, wei Yao ze zhi). 清代碧玉雕雙龍印 中國，十九世紀末。方印上一對祥龍，中間穿孔，龍嘴大張露出利牙，龍鼻呈如意形，眼睛暴突。 來源：德國家族收藏， 據説其祖父1900年代在上海當兵時購得此印。2006年于科隆Lempertz藝廊拍賣，拍賣會 #892，2006年6月9日，拍號 266。之後私人收藏。 品相：品相極好，舊時磨損，包漿細膩。局部磕損。印章面還可見印泥餘留。 重量： 1137.8 克 尺寸： 8.5 x 8.5 x 8.3 厘米