Page 228 - J.J. Lally Chinese Art CHRISTIE'S March 23 2023 NYC

919 A GREY-GREEN STONE SET OF 南宋ǭ⒢刻梅紋長方套硯
TWIN RECTANGULAR INKSTONES
Ϝ源
AND COVER 藍理捷
紐約
編號
SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY (1127-1279)
The rectangular inkstones are each carved with a flat grinding
surface and half-round water well enclosed by raised squared
borders. The cover is carved in relief with a branch with a prunus
blossom. The three elements fit together in a neat stack, with the
bottom inkstone resting on four shallow square feet, each with
remnants of red ink.
Each: 5√ in. (14.9 cm.) long, cloth box (3)
$2,000-3,000
PROVENANCE:
J. J. Lally & Co., New York, no. 3459.

(another view)

918 A DUAN SIZHIYANG RECTANGULAR 宋ǭ端⒢抄手硯
INKSTONE
SONG DYNASTY (AD 960-1279) Ϝ源
藍理捷
紐約
編號
The smooth purplish-grey stone is crisply carved with straight flat
sides enclosing a sloping platform that descends to a deep water well
at the closed end, with the opposite end and underside cut away.
Both sides are carved in high relief with a flaming pearl to cleverly
utilize an ‘eye’ in the stone.
6Ω in. (16.5 cm.) long, cloth box
$1,000-1,500

PROVENANCE:
J. J. Lally & Co., New York, no. 2753.

A slightly larger Song dynasty Duan inkstone of very similar form
and with natural ‘eye’ markings is in the Nanjing Museum and
illustrated by Xu Huping in The Treasures of the Nanjing Museum,
London, 2001, no. 80. See, also, an inkstone with four straight
sides (sizhiyang) illustrated by S. Kwan in Chinese Inkstones, Hong
Kong, 2005, pp. 146-147, no. 34.

(another view)
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