A RARE BUFFALO HORN ‘XINIU’ SEAL, EARLY QING DYNASTY China, 17^th-18^th century. Of oval form, surmounted by a finely carved xiniu standing foursquare and gazing up at the sky, the beast neatly detailed with thick brows, an elegantly curved horn, muscular legs, and incised mane and paws.

Inscriptions: The seal face, ‘Jieda Huanxi’ (‘happiness for everyone’).

Provenance: Spanish trade, by repute from an old private estate in Madrid. Austrian private collection, acquired from the above.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and a network of natural age cracks, some of which appear to have grown in size over time. Few minor nicks. Naturally developed, smooth, dark-brown patina.

Weight: 39 g
Dimensions: Height 7.6 cm

The xiniu is a legendary Chinese animal. In ancient Chinese texts, the term xiniu originally meant rhinoceros. In later periods, the creature became increasingly mythologized after the rhinoceros was extinct in post-archaic China. By the Song dynasty, it had become a beast of legend, known only through literary references. Over time, the depiction of this animal changed to a more bovine appearance with a single curved horn on its head that was used to communicate with the sky, which is why the xiniu is mostly depicted while gazing up at the moon.

Expert’s note: The figure is skillfully carved to varying degrees of thickness, resulting in increased translucence to areas carefully chosen by the lapidary, such as the horn, thus resulting in an overall enhanced appearance. This is a long-lost master technique indicating an early Qing-dynasty date.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related buffalo horn seal carved with a goat, 6.4 cm high, dated to the Republic period, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in Chinese Art on 3 December 2015, lot 351, sold for HKD 75,000. Compare a related horn seal carved with a ram, 4.5 cm wide, dated to the Qianlong period, at Sotheby’s London in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 4 November 2009, lot 173, sold for GBP 10,625.

清初水牛角雕犀牛鈕印
中國，十七至十八世紀。橢圓形印，上有雕刻細膩的仰頭望天的甪端，濃密的眉毛、優雅彎曲的獨角，姿態矯健，細節雕刻生動。

款識: 皆大歡喜

來源：西班牙古玩市場，據説購於馬德里私人收藏；奧地利私人收藏購於西班牙。
品相：狀況極好，輕微磨損和自然老化裂紋，其中一些似乎隨著時間的推移而變大。 輕微小劃痕，自然發展的光滑、深褐色的包漿。

重量：39克
尺寸：高7.6厘米

專家注釋：巧妙雕刻，從而增加了它的半透明度，從而整體增強了其美感。這是一門久違的大師技藝，表明它應該來自清代早期。

拍賣結果比較：比較一件水牛角雕羊鈕印，高 6.4 厘米，民國，見香港蘇富比 Chinese Art 2015年12月3日 lot 351, 售價HKD 75,000；比較一件角雕羊鈕印，寬4.5 厘米，清代，見倫敦蘇富比Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2009年11月4 日，lot 173, 售價GBP 10,625。