Page 231 - SOTHEBYS MARCH 18 AND 19 2025

INK CAKES FROM
THE JUNKUNC COLLECTION

LOTS 418–422

瓊肯收藏墨珍 418 420
編號 418–422 AN INSCRIBED ‘TIAN BAO JIU RU’ INK CAKE, A SET OF THREE INSCRIBED INK CAKES, QING cakes of its time. The inspiration for this imposing molded
QING DYNASTY DYNASTY design comes from a tale recorded in the Shiji in which
the people of the Cinnabar Mound (Danqiu) present to the
the side molded with a five-character mark reading Jingqige the rectangular ink cakes molded on one side with a baluster Yellow Emperor with an agate vase which exuded a precious
zhencang (treasure of the Pavilion of Great Happiness), one jar atop a platform representing Mount Heng surrounded by dew (baolu), and which was later placed on a special
face with three inscriptions reading yu mo (imperial ink), a roiling sea, ‘precious dew’ rising from the mouth of the jar, platform (Baolutai) on Mount Heng by the Shun Emperor.
tianbao jiuru (may Heaven protect you that you may exhibit the reverses with 58-character inscriptions describing the Compare another dated ink cake of this Baolutai design
the Nine Similitudes) and zhuizhu qizhang (Seek and refine story of the platform, and the sides molded with 15-character illustrated in Soame Jenyns, Chinese Art. The Minor Arts II,
its essence), the reverse with a landscape illuminated by the inscriptions attributing them to the wuchen year of the London, 1965, pl. 212, gifted to the Metropolitan Museum
Sun and Moon Kangxi reign, corresponding to 1688; the smaller ink cake of Art, New York from the Irving Collection, and later sold at
Width 4⅜ in., 11.1 cm molded on one face with gongchen feng jue ming (inscription Bonhams New York, 16th September 2024, lot 135.
on the bestowal of rank to meritorious officials), the other
PROVENANCE with a sixteen-character passage from the Shiji below For a similar ink cake of the other ‘bestowal of rank’ design,
Collection of Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978). two confronting dragons, the side with a seven-character compare a related example molded with gongchen feng jue
inscription reading Haiyang Fang Yulu zhencang (treasure of ming and confronting dragons, preserved in the National
Compare a closely related Qianlong mark and period Fang Yulu from Haiyang) (3) Palace Museum, Taipei (accession no. gu wen 000129),
example, preserved in the National Palace Museum, Taipei Length of longest 6⅞ in., 17.5 cm illustrated on the museum’s website.
(accession no. gu wen 000480); and another, dated to the
Qianlong dingsi year (in accordance with 1737), with the PROVENANCE $ 4,000-6,000
same landscape design, of yu mo and tianbao jiuru marks, Collection of Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978).
decorated in polychrome and illustrated in The Complete 清 「功臣封爵銘」墨及「寶露臺」墨兩件
Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. The Four An inscription on the pair of ink cakes attributes them to the 功臣封爵銘墨：《海陽方于魯珍藏》款
Treasures of the Study - Inksticks and Writing Brushes, famous workshop of Cao Sugong (active ca. 1615-89), known 寶露臺墨 :《康熙戊辰年古歙曹聖臣素功氏珍藏》款
Hong Kong, 2005, pl. 97. as one of the ‘Four Grand Scholar-Inkmakers of Hui,’ which
frequently supplied the Qing imperial court with finest ink 來源
$ 4,000-6,000
史蒂芬•瓊肯三世（1978年逝）收藏

清 「天保九如」墨
418 《景祺閣珍藏》款

銘文：
御墨、天保九如，追琢其章
來源
史蒂芬•瓊肯三世（1978年逝）收藏

419

A ‘DRAGON’ INK CAKE, QING DYNASTY
one side molded with a two-character inscription reading mo
bao within a square
Diameter 3¼ in., 8.3 cm
PROVENANCE
Collection of Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978).
$ 4,000-6,000

清 海水雲龍紋墨
銘文：
墨寶
來源
史蒂芬•瓊肯三世（1978年逝）收藏
419

458 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N11744 INK CAKES FROM THE JUNKUNC COLLECTION 459