In the depths of seventy-two peaks
Artist: Wen Peng (1498-1573)
Date: Ming (1368-1644)
Dimensions: Length 3.1 cm, Width 3.1 cm, Height 4.0 cm
Material: Ivory
Gift of Mr. Hua Du'an and Mrs. Mao Mingfen
In the mid and late Ming dynasty, seal carving began to prevail among literati. Wen Peng mainly carved seals with Qingtian Stone, and was hailed as the founder of the seal cutting genre. He also carved some stone and ivory seals, but few have survived. This 'In the Depths of Seventy-two Peaks' ivory seal was said to be unearthed during the period of Anti-Japanese War, with the cursive script of 'Wen Peng' seen on the left side.