Detail View: National Palace English: Refined clay inkstone in Shi-qu pattern

Work ID: 
M010A0014
Title: 
Refined clay inkstone in Shi-qu pattern
Creation Date: 
Qian-long reign, Qing Dynasty
Start Year Date: 
A.D.1736
End Year Date: 
A.D.1795
Dynasty: 
67 Qian-long reign (A.D. 1736~1795)
Creation Place: 
China
Measurements: 
Length: 14.3 cm; Height: 5.0 cm
Material: 
Refined clay
Form: 
Yan (ink-stone)
Type: 
Studio accessories
Repository: 
The National Palace Museum, Taipei
Description: 
This inkstone is square. The inkwell goes around the stone near the rim. The rim is decorated with the fretted pattern. The decoration on the sides is composed of three objects: two embossed horn-less dragons and a pushou pattern situated between the dragons. A pushou pattern is a decorative carving in relief (or sculpture) usually found on doors near or on the annulated doorknob. Commonly, the pushou is sculpted into an animal or an animal's head alone whose nose is attached with a suspended ring. The back of the inkstone reveals three squares in different size, the larger one encompassing the smaller one. The outermost square is flat. The middle square is slightly sunken, and the innermost one is furthermore sunken. On the middle square, an inscription of Qianlong is carved. The inscription is carved in kai-shu (regular style) and read in anti-clockwise direction. The inscription is concluded with an endorsement, "an imperial inscription by Qianlong," and one seal. Another inscription of six characters is visible on the innermost square. The inscription is read from top to bottom and right to left; it says, "an archaistic gesture of Qianlong." The inkstone is preserved in a jade-inlaid wooden casket. The white jade is embossed with a pair of dragons whose gesture is looking back.
ImageV ID: 
M010A0014AS001
Rights: 
Lee & Lee Communications