Pair of carved soapstone elephant seals

Chinese soapstone seals have been carved for centuries, serving both functional and decorative purposes in East Asian culture. These elephant-form seals likely date from the 20th century and represent a traditional craft that combines artistry with utility, as seals were used to stamp official documents and artworks. Such pieces reflect the Chinese appreciation for elephants as symbols of strength, wisdom, and good fortune in traditional iconography. Soapstone elephant seals appeal to collectors of Asian art, Chinese antiquities, and those interested in traditional seal carving (also known as篆刻 or zhuanke). These items are valued for their cultural significance, craftsmanship, and the symbolic meaning of elephants in Chinese culture. Collectors appreciate both their historical function as personal stamps and their aesthetic qualities as decorative objects that represent centuries-old carving traditions.