Old Stone Mandarin Seal 18th-19th Century order Stamp Vietnam Carved Nguyen Dynasty Bear Dog marble

Beautiful old carved marble Mandarin seal.

A Mandarin was a government official appointed through an imperial examination system.

Vietnam emulated the Chinese system of mandarins in its civil service. The last mandarins in history were in service of the State of Vietnam up until 1955. The Confucian examination system in Vietnam was established in 1075 under the Ly order dynasty, and lasted until the Nguyen dynasty of the 19th century.

Appears to be in the form of a bear, possibly dog. In a stunning marble of various hues of brown and crimson. A few nicks, dints and hairline fractures, to be expected of the age.

18th to 19th century.

Measurements:

Height - 6.0cm
Width - 3.4cm
Depth - 3.8cm
Weight - 124g