Very small seal carved from a piece of walnut. Such seals were often worn as beads which explains the hole through the centre. On the other side is a carving of a rabbit and pumpkins or melons. The rabbit is one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac and represents ‘hope’. The pumpkin symbolizes a wish for a lot of descendants because of its many seeds. The material from which this small gem is carved, is very hard and therefore difficult to carve. The seal dates from the Qing period (1644 – 1912). Length 2.3 cm. Width 1.8 cm. Height 1.6 cm.