Featured Chinese? Soapstone? Horse Seal: LELGN in English

~3 1/8" long overall, ~3/4" square. Amber-colored, slightly translucent; weight ~2 5/8 oz.
I think it's Chinese mostly for the horse; soapstone highly suspect for the edge an' corner dings that show white, 'tho I haven't tested it for softness. This seal is probably quite contemporary, as I've not seen such a seal with any English characters. The 5 character legend on the face may be generic; but hopefully not, an' may provide a clue to the seal meaning. Your observations an' comments are sought, folks...an' most appreciated. Thanks for lookin'!

 

A gift for someone named Lelan (with the 'a' being carved incorrectly), who was born in the year of the horse?

 

These things have such a cool look,Iam always tempted to buy when I see them but unfortunately I don’t have the knowledge to make a more informed decision.

 

It's been used as an ink seal, but that's as far as I get. Whoever owned it actually used it.

 

I’ve got one of these. Bought in Hong Kong about forty years ago. The chop on mine, which they caved while I waited, is my first name as near as it could be represented.

 

I have one also. The year of the Pig. The stamp is a pig, not calligraphy.
Came in its original box. couldn't even sell it for half what I paid.

Mikey

 

similars:

Vintage Carved Jadeite Chop Seal Year of the Horse With Box - Etsy

Chinese Carved Soapstone Horse Seal or Chop. For Sale at Ruby Lane

Set of 4 Chinese 1960s Shoushan Stone Carved Seals Snake Rooster Monkey Horse | #4697715847

 

Thank you, All...I'm satisfied that, as Mikey noted, it's a while-you-wait, probably Hong-Kong, Year of the Horse tourist tchotchke!

 

The inscription on the chop says, "May you have the health and happiness of a horse." If you live near a large Chinatown, you could actually go to someone who cuts seals (look for a place where new seals are sold) and have the name taken off. It could then be remade with something general, like "happiness" or "long life," or you could just leave it blank if you wanted to sell it to someone else.