我們收藏清朝皇家瑪瑙印章已有三十多年的歷史，在故宮或在文獻中，很少記述清代瑪瑙印章，所以在2015年有清道光瑪瑙螭龍紐印章(圖一)拍賣，像沒有人問津。2016年，西冷拍賣「叢雲」，二字的瑪瑙印章(圖二)，現場僅以1.8萬人民幣價格成交，一年之後，證實是乾隆印章，成交價相差數百倍，所以這絕對是一個最勵志的撿漏故事。這個重要教訓，玉璽印章。無論是甚麼材料，它們有其歷史和收藏價值，甚至有驚人的經濟回報。

 

            We have been collecting Qing dynasty imperial agate seals for more than thirty years. In the Forbidden City or in historical records, there are very few mentions of Qing dynasty agate seals. Therefore, in 2015, when a Daoguang-era agate seal with a Chilong dragon knob (figure 1) was auctioned, it seemed that no one was interested. In 2016, when the agate seal inscribed with the characters “Congyun” (figure 2) was auctioned by Xiling, it was sold on-site for only  18,000 RMB. However, a year later, it was confirmed to be a Qianlong-era seal, and its selling price differed by hundreds of times. This is undoubtedly the most inspiring story of a lucky find. The key lesson here is that imperial seals, regardless of the material, possess historical and collectible value, and can even yield astonishing economic returns.

 

道光朝瑪瑙章

Agate Seal of Daoguang Period

 

圖一

Figure 1

 

乾隆瑪瑙章 (叢璽)

Private Agate Seal of Emperor Qianlong

 

圖二

Figure 2

 

            瑪瑙璽印，在我們研究中，以清道光朝所刻的最著，為數最多，在我們的藏品中，有一枚瑪瑙”圓明園大宮門”印章 (圖三)，以下是大宮門的歷史:

            「圓明園大宮門是圓明園的主要入口，圓明園也被稱為老頤和園，位於北京西郊。圓明園是清朝時期建造的一個廣闊宮殿和花園群，以其壯麗的建築、藝術作品和景觀而著稱。它曾是皇帝的居所，也是皇帝處理國事的地方。

大宮門是這座皇宮花園的壯麗入口，象徵著清朝皇帝的權利和威嚴。這座門具有傳統的中國建築元素，如精雕細琢的梁柱、彩繪的屋檐和雄偉的石柱。

不幸的是，圓明園包括大宮門在內的許多建築在1860年的第二次鴉片戰爭中被英法聯軍嚴重破壞和掠奪。今天，這些宮殿和大門的廢墟依然矗立。成為那段歷史及其文化損失的見證。

大宮門在其原本的形式中，應該是一個清朝建築的驚人典範，融合了美學之美和象徵力量。」

 

In our research, agate seals from the Daoguang reign of the Qing dynasty are the most notable and numerous. Among our collection, there is an agate seal with the inscription “Yuanmingyuan Grand Palace Gate”. (Figure 3) Below is a brief history of the Grand Palace Gate:

「Yuanmingyuan Grand Palace Gate (Da Gongmen) was the main entrance to the Yuanmingyuan, also known as the Old Summer Palace, located in the western suburbs of Beijing. The Yuanmingyuan was an extensive complex of palace and gardens built during the Qing dynasty, known for its stunning architecture, artwork, and landscapes. It served as an imperial residence and a place for the emperors to conduct state affairs.

The Grand Palace Gate (Da Gongmen), was the grand entrance to this imp0erial garden. The gate was characterized by  its imperial garden. The gate was characterized by its monumental architecture, symbolizing the power and grandeur of the Qing emperors. It featured traditional Chinese architectural elements, such as intricately carved beams, painted eaves, and imposing stone pillars.  

Unfortunately, the Yuanmingyuan, including the Grand Palace Gate (da Gongmen), was heavily damaged and looted by Anglo-French forces during the Second Opium War in 1860. The ruins of the palace and its gates still stand today as a reminder of its historical significance and the cultural loss experienced during that period.

The gate, in its original form, would have been a striking example of Qing dynasty architecture, combing both aesthetic beauty and symbolic power.」

 

圓明園大宮門

The Grand Palace Gate of the Old Summer Palace

 

圖三

Figure 3

 

 

            圖四是大宮門平面圖。

            圖五是大宮門構圖。

            圖六是大宮門考古和發掘圖。

            圖七是大宮門現在重建的原貌。

            Figure 4 is the floor plan of the Grand Palace Gate.

            Figure 5 is the design of the Gran Palace Gate.

            Figure 6 is the archaeological and excavation map of the Grand Palace Gate.

            Figure 7 is the current reconstruction of the original appearance of the Grand

Palace Gate.

 

大宮門地圖

Map of the grand Palace Gate

 

圖四

Figure 4

大宮門構圖

Grand Palace Gate Composition

 

圖五

Figure 5

 

大宮門考古發掘

Excavation of the Grand Palace Gate

 

圖六

Figure 6

 

大宮門復原現貌

Restore Appearance of the Grand Palace Gate

 

圖七

Figure 7

 

            從以上的討論，我們不可以輕視瑪瑙章，或許你們收藏的不只有收藏和歷史價值，或許還可以帶來高益的經濟效益。

 

From the above discussion, we should not underestimate agate seals. The items in your collection may not only hold historical and collectible value, but they might also yield significant economic benefits.