Qing emperor Kangxi’s seal fetches HK$81 million at Hong Kong auction
Kangxi ruled China from 1661 to 1722
An imperial seal of Qing dynasty Emperor Kangxi has been sold for HK$81 million at an auction in Hong Kong.
At a Sotheby’s sale at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Seal of the Mandate of Heaven was snapped up after just a few minutes of fierce bidding.
Made of sandalwood, it bears the inscription “revere heaven and serve thy people”.
Bidding started at HK$15 million. The final fee, including buyer’s premium, was HK$92.6 million.
Nicolas Chow, deputy chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, said: “It is an unprecedented privilege for us to handle such an important relic of China’s imperial past.
“This seal is emblematic of the Mandate of Heaven, which has legitimised the authority of rulers in China since the dawn of recorded history.”
Another object formerly belonging to Emperor Kangxi, his soapstone seal, was sold for HK$42 million. His personal record of seal, meanwhile, was unsold.
