Page 57 - 2021 March 15th Fine Chinese Paintings and Works of Art, Bonhams NYC New York
P. 57

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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