Page 33 - Elegantly Made, Art For The Literati, 2020, J.J. Lally, New York

8. A C ARVED REFINED CL AY INKS T ONE ( CHENGNI YAN )
Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)

the shallow oblong block of chengni (澄泥) refined stoneware moulded and carved with a wide
circular ‘sun’ grinding platform below a deep crescent-shape ‘moon’ water well all enclosed by
raised line borders and flanked by a vigorously carved dragon and swirling clouds at the top and a
fish swimming amidst water weeds below, the carved sections polished to a deeper purplish tone
above the pale yellowish-brown ground.

5
Length 8 ⁄8 inches (22 cm)
Chengni inkstones (澄泥硯) are a special category of ceramic inkstones made from highly refined clay produced by a complex
and laborious process of filtering and kneading silted clay until the particles are as fine as possible before pressing, moulding,
carving, drying and firing.
A detailed description of the method of production of chengni inkstones published in the Song dynasty by Su Yijian (958-
996), in the third fascicle of Wenfang sipu (Notes on the Four Treasures of the Scholar’s Studio) is quoted by Kwan, Chinese
Inkstones, Hong Kong, 2005, p. 9 (in Chinese) and p. 41 (translated into English).
A very similar chengni inkstone dated by inscription to 1359 in a private collection in Shanghai, is illustrated by Luo,
Zhongguo chengni guyan jianshang (Connoisseurship of Ancient Chinese Chengni Inkstones), Shanghai, 2005, pp. 90-91,
no. 41.
Compare also the white stone inkstone with the same ‘sun and moon’ grinding surface and water well surrounded by
carved bamboo and grapes in a private collection in Beijing, illustrated by Cai and Hu (eds.), Zhongguo ming yan jianshang
(Connoisseurship of Famous Chinese Inkstones), Ji’nan, 1992, pp. 59-60, no. 42, described as Yuan dynasty.

元 日月澄泥硯 長 22 厘米