HISTORIC AND EXTRAORDINARY IMPERIAL GILT BRONZE SEAL.

HISTORIC AND EXTRAORDINARY IMPERIAL GILT BRONZE SEAL. Dated 3rd year of the Ch’ien Lung (1738-1739), China. This rare and important seal was made for the plain white banner (one of the 8 banners of the Manchu military system). This square seal cast, carved, and chased in extremely deep and detailed relief with a central crouching dragon chasing a pearl and accompanied by eight other dragons within waves and cloud bands in various poses. Two panels on the impression of the seal are decorated with sealed character script in Manchu and Chinese. The front is inscribed with the date; 3rd year of the Ch’ien Lung. Two inscriptions of Manchu on two sides of the seal; one on the front and two on either side. This spectacular seal is cast of an alloy comprised of copper, silver, gold, and tin. The entire piece has been repeatedly fire gilded. SIZE: 2-1/2″ h x 6-3/4″ w x 6-3/4″ d. PROVENANCE: The seal was consigned by the nephew of Rear Admiral, William A. Sullivan of the U.S. Navy. Sullivan had an illustrious career in the Navy. He was born 1894 in Lawrence, MA; graduated from Annapolis in 1917 after graduating from MIT. and died in 1985 in Lajolla, CA where he had retired with his wife, Bess (Elizabeth). Sullivan is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and in 1992 was posthumously awarded the title “Father of Navy Salvage” by the U.S. Congress. This very title is inscribed on his headstone there at Arlington. The consignor, also a seagoing man, maintained a long and close relationship with his illustrious uncle, Admiral Sullivan. In part because of their relationship, sometime after his death Sullivan’s wife (Bess) gave some very special personal mementos of the Admiral to our consignor. Included with these affects was this very special seal that the Admiral always held in high esteem. The consignor states that prior to the war, the Admiral spent time in China. After the war, he retired and in 1948 started a construction company in Japan during the rebuilding. During that time, the Admiral did very well and it is not known by the consignor whether the Admiral acquired the seal while in China prior to the war or sometime after the war in Japan but the seal was a prized possession of his uncle throughout his lifetime. Admiral Sullivan had started a book which unfortunately was never completed which he had titled “The Commodore of Sunken Ships”. Sullivan started the U.S. Navy’s deep sea diving school and one of his great feats was to raise the Normandie, the famous French liner which was sunk in New York City harbor during the war. During his lifetime, Sullivan received numerous awards and medals both from the U.S. and foreign governments for his underwater salvage work. A notarized letter from the consignor stating essentially the above information will accompany this lot. CONDITION: Outstanding. Retains its entire original gold surface. This seal is intact and as with most important seals obviously kept in a special seal case (not present now). Today it is in superb condition. Exhibiting only minimal and very minor abrasions. A truly spectacular and historical Chinese gold/bronze seal. 7-73541 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2013

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	4156	$154,050.00	HISTORIC AND EXTRAORDINARY IMPERIAL GILT BRONZE SEAL. Dated 3rd year of the Ch’ien Lung (1738-1739), China. This rare and important seal was made for the plain white banner (one of the 8 banners of the Manchu military system). This square seal cast, carved, and chased in extremely deep and detailed relief with a central crouching dragon chasing a pearl and accompanied by eight other dragons within waves and cloud bands in various poses. Two panels on the impression of the seal are decorated with sealed character script in Manchu and Chinese. The front is inscribed with the date; 3rd year of the Ch’ien Lung. Two inscriptions of Manchu on two sides of the seal; one on the front and two on either side. This spectacular seal is cast of an alloy comprised of copper, silver, gold, and tin. The entire piece has been repeatedly fire gilded. SIZE: 2-1/2″ h x 6-3/4″ w x 6-3/4″ d. PROVENANCE: The seal was consigned by the nephew of Rear Admiral, William A. Sullivan of the U.S. Navy. Sullivan had an illustrious career in the Navy. He was born 1894 in Lawrence, MA; graduated from Annapolis in 1917 after graduating from MIT. and died in 1985 in Lajolla, CA where he had retired with his wife, Bess (Elizabeth). Sullivan is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and in 1992 was posthumously awarded the title “Father of Navy Salvage” by the U.S. Congress. This very title is inscribed on his headstone there at Arlington. The consignor, also a seagoing man, maintained a long and close relationship with his illustrious uncle, Admiral Sullivan. In part because of their relationship, sometime after his death Sullivan’s wife (Bess) gave some very special personal mementos of the Admiral to our consignor. Included with these affects was this very special seal that the Admiral always held in high esteem. The consignor states that prior to the war, the Admiral spent time in China. After the war, he retired and in 1948 started a construction company in Japan during the rebuilding. During that time, the Admiral did very well and it is not known by the consignor whether the Admiral acquired the seal while in China prior to the war or sometime after the war in Japan but the seal was a prized possession of his uncle throughout his lifetime. Admiral Sullivan had started a book which unfortunately was never completed which he had titled “The Commodore of Sunken Ships”. Sullivan started the U.S. Navy’s deep sea diving school and one of his great feats was to raise the Normandie, the famous French liner which was sunk in New York City harbor during the war. During his lifetime, Sullivan received numerous awards and medals both from the U.S. and foreign governments for his underwater salvage work. A notarized letter from the consignor stating essentially the above information will accompany this lot. CONDITION: Outstanding. Retains its entire original gold surface. This seal is intact and as with most important seals obviously kept in a special seal case (not present now). Today it is in superb condition. Exhibiting only minimal and very minor abrasions. A truly spectacular and historical Chinese gold/bronze seal. 7-73541 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2013 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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