Ironically, an approprite rememberance of the Total Eclipse of 2017 was created nearly five hundred years ago by a Ming Dynasty scholar and artist. It is one of the affordable signature stone carvings in Gianguan Auctions' September 9th sale. 

Lot 41, a Tianhuang stone seal with a recumbent Bixie atop a column, was the personal mark of Wang Shou. The incised writing on the bottom that was inked and applied to calligraphy and documents reflects on the nature of the man who created it. It states in Chinese letters "The Sunrise Shines Through the Million Households."

If the Chinese viewed an eclipse as the sun being eaten by some evil spirit, this seal glorifies its importance. The source of livelihood, when it darkened even for a few minutes, country folk worried. Likely, in the span of a lifetime, they never saw more than one or eclipses.  (Afterall, the U.S. will not see another total eclipse until 2024.)

Wang Shou (1472-1529) was a thoughtful man, the personification of a Chinese scholar. As a philospher, he embraced Chinese Idealist Neo-Confucianism. He was also a highly regarded   Official, Educator, Calligrapher, General and Writer. His courtesy name was Bo'an.

Like most of the seals in the collection at Gianguan Auctions, this tells its owner's story and comments on his station in life. Specialists are on hand at the gallery, on the phone, and email to translate the characters on the seals for you.

The collection runs into double digits, with prices beginning at about $800. Several exceptional seals mark this auction, including Lot 74, an 8-sided column  of shoushan stone incised with poetry and landscapes. Atop, are nine reticulated dragons tracing pearl. Six-inches tall, three and half pounds, the rarity starts at $1,500.

Lot 47, for instance, is a columnar furong stone seal surmounted with a seated Guanyin resting her arm on a cleverly carved table. Bidding on the five-inch tall statue starts at $600. 

For more on the Chinese seals and other properties in Gianguan Auctions' Fall Asia Week sale on Saturday, September 9, please visit the catalog at www.gianguanauctions.com.