Page 217 - Christie's Important Chinese Works of Art, May 31 to June 1, 2023 Hong Kong

fig. 1
圖一
that the original form of this type of ink stone was inspired by the although the Imperial Household had already planned to prepare a
bronze tiger tally used for mobilizing troops in ancient times, hence false-sash flower-patterned “standard box” made of red sandalwood
the name. However, it is now known that this type of ink stone shaped for the chengni hufuyan in mid-May of 1776, and an imperial decree was
like a crouching tiger was actually imitated from the bronze ink stone given to make such sandalwood boxes for the existing chengni huyan
box with an exotic beast in the Han Dynasty. As Emperor Qianlong collection in Maoqindian (Maoqin Palace) in October of the same year,
directed his officials to study and create new chengni Ink stones, many but the Emperor soon changed his mind and ordered the production
of them were made to imitate the shapes of archaistic ink stones in of red sandalwood ink stone boxes carved with dragon patterns for two
the imperial collection, including the crouching tiger-shaped ones. As newly-made chengni hufuyan.
they were newly made tiger-shaped ink stones, it was not appropriate
to call them “tiger tally ink stones” and they were renamed “crouching This change of heart was swift, but the news did not reach Suzhou
tiger ink stones” based on their appearance. In the Huojidang records, soon enough. On September 22 of 1777, a chengni hufuyan with a red
whether old or newly made, most ink stones were simply referred to as sandalwood false-sash box was delivered to the Emperor. He did not
chengni huyan (tiger ink stone), but by the end of June in 1776, the term lay blame but actually appreciated the Suzhou craftsman’s imitation
chengni hufuyan (crouching tiger ink stone) was used to refer to newly of the green rust patina of ancient bronze wares on that particular ink
made chengni tiger ink stones. stone. As the result, a decree was issued to send newly-made chengni
linghua bafang yan (foliate-form octagonal ink stones), chengni longwen
In fact, the chengni clay sourced from Jiangxian was “hard in nature” yan (dragon pattern ink stones) and huangshi ink stone to Suzhou to be
and had to be mixed with 30% Jiangnan clay or added with crushed decorated with the same green rust colour as the chengni hufu yan. In
porcelain powder before it could be used. As for the ink stone box, addition, ink stones in shiqu patterns also had to be sent to Suzhou for

的原形是古代發兵用的銅兵符，故名之為「虎符硯」，今已知 意，傳旨為新做的兩方澄泥虎伏硯改配紫檀雕龍紋硯盒。
這類作伏臥虎形的硯式乃倣自漢硯中的異獸銅硯盒外形。
聖意改變迅速，卻未遠傳蘇州方面理解，乾隆四十二年
乾隆皇帝帶領臣工研製澄泥硯時，多仿造內廷古硯形制，故
(1777)九月二十二日蘇州送到一方澄泥虎伏硯，仍附隨一件
也包含臥虎形澄泥硯，因是新做的澄泥虎形硯，不宜名為「
紫檀包袱式盒；皇帝不但未曾怪罪，還甚欣賞蘇州匠役為這
虎符硯」，依其外型改稱「虎扶硯(研)」。在當時活計檔的載
方硯的器表模仿古銅器綠繡顏色作舊。於是傳旨將造辦處新
錄中，初期不論是舊硯或新做，多僅稱作「澄泥虎硯」，至乾
做的澄泥菱花式八方硯、澄泥龍紋硯和黃石硯一併送到蘇州
隆四十一年(1776)六月下旬已以「澄泥虎伏硯」指稱新做澄
裝飾如澄泥虎伏硯般的青綠鏽色。此外，澄泥石渠硯也須發
泥虎硯了。
往蘇州仿製青綠鏽色，但仍有新做澄泥硯需保留本色，不必
其實當時從絳縣取得的澄泥「性硬」，需摻合三成江南澄泥， 上綠色的紀錄。
或加入碎瓷末，方始合用。至於硯盒，雖然在乾隆四十一年
除了青綠鏽色多由蘇州匠役完成，其款識或硯銘由懋勤殿文
五月中旬內廷已規劃為澄泥虎伏硯配製紫檀「包袱式花紋
臣負責擬文、刻寫，再交蘇州覓匠刻字，後來蘇州送到的澄
樣」的「規矩式盒」；同年十月間也傳旨為懋勤殿庫貯舊藏
泥硯照例先完成文字雕刻。如此經過十餘年，蘇州織造總不
「澄泥虎硯」照樣配製紫檀包袱式盒。然不久皇帝即改變心

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