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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTION For an earlier Northern Song Green Duan (Ka Seki) inkstone of identical
shape, see Mayuyama Ryusendo, Exhibition Catalogue: Mei Ken Ten.
57 (Exhibition of Excellent Ink Stones), Tokyo, 1987, no. 11, col. pl. 11.
A SOFT-GREEN AND YELLOW DUAN RECTANGULAR Inkstones form an integral part of the appreciation of the traditional
INKSTONE WITH JICHIMU COVER AND STAND
Possibly early Qing Dynasty scholar’s studio culture and the appreciation of furnishings, antiques,
The rectangular inkstone is carved with a smoothly polished grinding paper, seals and all other such associated objects. The inkstone,
surface inclining into a lightly troughed inkwell at one end, framed on together with the ink brush, inkstick and Xuan paper, are the four writing
three sides with plain ridged borders, the gently sloping base and all implements traditionally known as the Wen fang si bao, 文房四寶 (Four
remaining surfaces are plain. Treasures of the Study).
9in (22.8cm) long
Water is applied onto the inkstone, using a dropper, and one end of
the inkstick is placed on the grinding surface and gradually ground,
$4,000 - 6,000 usually in a circular motion, to produce the ink. During the grinding
process the ink flows into the reservoir of the inkstone where it will not
雞翅木盒長方形端硯 evaporate as quickly as on the flat grinding surface. Inkstones have
existed, presumably, since the regular use of ink in the production of
calligraphy and painting. They were certainly popularized during the
Han Dynasty and continued through the Tang and reached a zenith
in the Song. The Qianlong Emperor had his own imperial collection of
inkstones catalogued into a twenty-four chapter compendium entitled
Xiqing yanpu.
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