The Manchu officials’ bronze seals that made £6500 at Bonhams Edinburgh.
Each was inscribed with a date corresponding to 1750 and, in Han and Manchu script, words translating as Ministry of Military; Made by Ministry of Rite, with one stating it was the Seal of Temporary Headquarters of Ritual, the other the Seal of Temporary Headquarters of Human Resources.
Against an estimate of £2000-3000, these windows into Qianlong bureaucracy sold at £6500 on March 21.
