Page 76 - The Ian and Susan Wilson Collection Schilar's Objects, Christie's, March 2016

1165
A RECTANGULAR PUDDINGSTONE
INK STONE

19TH CENTURY

The ink stone is carved on the top with a
circular grinding space and interlocking
circular pool, and decorated in the corners
with waves and clouds, with a rectangular
recessed panel is on the underside.
7¬ in. (19.4 cm.) long, hongmu base and cover
$4,000-6,000

PROVENANCE

Nicholas Grindley, London, 1989.

清十九世紀 抱子石長方硯

1166
AN OVAL ‘LANTING PAVILION’ INK STONE

19TH CENTURY

The top and sides are carved with scenes
from the Lanting Pavilion gathering, and the
underside is carved with a fgure in a boat
below mountains.
4¡ in. (11.1 cm.) long
$3,000-5,000

The scene on the present ink stone is based on
the Lanting Xu, or ‘Lanting Preface’, originally
written by the greatest of all calligraphers, Wang
Xizhi (c. AD 307-365), to commemorate the
Lanting (Orchid Pavilion) gathering, which took
place in the ninth year of the Yonghe reign of the
Eastern Jin dynasty (AD 353). Forty-two scholars
were invited to the Orchid Pavilion near Shanyin,
Zhejiang province, for the Spring Purifcation
Festival, where a scholarly game took place. The
participants were challenged to compose poems,
having each been given an initial character. Those
who produced two poems had to drink one cup of
wine, whilst those who only composed one poem
drank two cups, and those who failed to compose
any poetry at all, were required to consume three
cups.
清十九世紀 石刻蘭亭硯

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