Foreign seals donated by He Lianhai to the Xiling Seal Society. [Photo/WeChat account: xlys-1904]

In a significant gesture of cultural preservation, He Lianhai, a member of the Xiling Seal Society, has donated 659 foreign seals to the organization, marking the largest single donation of international seals in the society's 120-year history.

This extensive collection, acquired over the course of nearly two decades, includes artifacts primarily dating from the third to the second millennia BCE and spans ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Indus Valley, Bactria, and the Margiana culture. The seals, crafted from materials like steatite, silver, copper, clay, shell, and faience, are from regions such as the Mediterranean and Central and South Asia. Seals from the Indus Valley and Central Asian Bronze Age civilizations stand out as the largest and most comprehensive collection of their kind in China.

The donation enriches the Xiling Seal Society's collection and fills a gap in the study of international seals. These artifacts will support the academic exploration of seal history, enhance exhibits at the Chinese Seal Art Museum, and foster cross-cultural exchange in seal art.

He, born in 1972, is a distinguished artist, calligrapher, and professor at Nanjing University of Finance and Economics. His published works include collections of his seal art and calligraphy.

Foreign seals donated by He Lianhai to the Xiling Seal Society. [Photo/WeChat account: xlys-1904]