Jade Seal ‘Xuan Wu’, Western Han Dynasty

Carved white jade, with subtle ochre flecks. It has a trapezoidal base, decorated with engraved scrolls and scrolls in relief arranged on the sides on which the mythological image of ‘Xuan Wu’ or ‘玄武, also known as the “black turtle”, is placed. The animal, with an intimidating expression, is arranged with its sturdy legs bent and its head cocked towards the shell, covered by an incised hexagonal pattern, on which the sinuous serpent faces the tortoise's gaze. On the base is a seal with characters in relief. Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-8 AD) or later.

Size: 5.5 x 1.9 x 5.6 cm

Weight: 78 g