An 18th century Chinese imperial¹ seal has sold at auction² in Paris for a record ?18 million after a thrilling bidding battle.

 

一件18世纪中国皇帝的玉玺在巴黎德鲁奥拍卖行经过一轮紧张的角逐卖出天价。

 

The red and white stamp, carved from red and white steatite or soapstone and featuring nine dragons to symbolise masculinity³ and imperial authority, was used by Emperor Qianlong, who died in 1799, to mark his paintings. According to Drouot, the auction house, 1,700 of the seals were made, of which 700 have disappeared and about 1,000 are kept in the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

 

The seal had been acquired in the late 19th century by a French naval⁴ doctor on a visit to China, and had been in his family ever since.

 

It was expected to bring ?800,000 to ?1 million at auction, but high competition in the room and on the telephone meant it eventually went to an unnamed buyer in China for ?21 million. Drouot declared the price a world record for such a seal, and the single most expensive work of art it had sold this year.

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