Chinese large soapstone seal

This cylindrical seal is fashioned from a very pale yellowish-green soapstone and incised on one end with archaistic characters encircled by a shallow incised ring. Otherwise, the seal is undecorated and has a pleasant, satiny sheen from age and use. There are numerous old small chips and wear to the edges of the carved end but not on the characters. This piece has the mellow appearance of an object that was used over a long period of time. The stone is lightly veined and mottled and shows a bit of red streaking on the carved face. There is also a faint remnant of red seal paste in the incising.

Height: 3 15/16 in.; Diameter: 1 ¾ in. carved end, 1 5/8 in. top end