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Hi
I've recently acquired this Chinese carved jade seal. The previous owner bought it at auction in the 1950s in the North of England. Can any advise me on what the characters on the stamp mean? I've taken a picture in the mirror to help.

A couple of extra photos

I don't think it is necessarily a seal as the character is not inverted. It is 'Lesser Seal Script',also called Xiaozhuan or Qinzhuan, which emerged in the Qin State during the Warring States (475 - 221 BC). Also early Han Dynasty
The characters may represent Taishan, a mystical mountain. I include the character on a stone tablet.

It must have been brand new in 2950.
The material looks like a Serpentine, not Jade
Scratch test will confirm this.
Ernest

Hi
Scratch test shows it is jade, not serpentine. Impossible to scratch it with steel scalpel.

You must use enough pressure to make as tiny2-3 mm scratch, there must be one or the other color, black or white. Tell us the color
Ernest

Hi Ernest
The scratching doesn't leave a black or white mark, but a grey oily looking deposit, which shines when it catches the light. There is no indentation in the material due to the effort. I've also tried where there is a chip at the base and cannot scratch through. Therefore I'm concluding that the stone must be harder than the steel knife point.
Kind regards

Sorry, with a correct test there is always a white or black line. You need to put more pressure on.
Ernest

Hi Ernest
Maybe, I'm being pedantic. It leaves a dark mark, which is shiny in the light, but is not black. It definitely is not white or light coloured.
Regards
John

OK, then it is an unusual Jade. As age goes, this would be a hands-on test.
Ernest

Hi Ernest
Not sure what you mean by sharp or soft edge. Again, maybe I taking it too literally. When I pass my finger over the edges, it is very well defined, but isn't sharp like a flint edge. A look with a powerful lens at the edges, shows evidence of minute nicks here and there, but not as evidence of a patterned work, rather the result of small knocks and wear. I will try and post a macro photo of the edge.
Regards
John

The character reads,
武　　-　Wu
a Chinese surname
(The character itself has the meanings valiant,fierce,etc.)

With regards,
I.Nagy

Hi I Nagy Sun
Thanks very much for that information. Will research further.
Kind regards
Juan

Anyone with a tiny bit of knowlegde and an internet connection can tell that this is entirely modern carving,jade or not, made for the tourist market.

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