Chinese
Seal, mid 19th century
Steatite stained to resemble jade, 8.1 x 4 x 3.8 cm (3 3/16 x 1 9/16 x 1 1/2 in.)
This Chinese stone seal is a vertical, square cylinder with a rounded top and a flat bottom. It is carved of steatite, also known as soapstone, which is mostly talc, and is stained to resemble jade. It is a gold color with brown and gray marbling throughout.The four Chinese characters that are carved on the bottom and painted red translate to: “the bamboo announces calm in the house”.
Early Italian Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.