COLLECTION NAME:
National Palace English
Record
Work ID:
M010A0024
Title:
Refined clay inkstone imitating tiger-shaped identification device
Creation Date:
Song Dynasty
Start Year Date:
A.D.960
End Year Date:
A.D.1279
Dynasty:
39 Song Dynasty (A.D. 960~1279)
Creation Place:
China
Measurements:
Length: 14.6 cm; Width: 7.6~8.6 cm; Thickness 1.6 cm; Height: 4.8 cm (with lid)
Material:
Refined clay
Form:
Yan (ink-stone)
Type:
Studio accessories
Subject:
Animals
Repository:
The National Palace Museum, Taipei
Description:
The inkstone approximates the shape of a crouching tiger as if it were spying its prey. This is an archaic imitation of the bronze-tiger identification devise used between the imperial court and the military posts to interchange messages during warring times. On the cover, a pattern of winding and divided branches decorates the lower back of the tiger. The remaining tiger is covered with a pattern made up of continuous circular or regular geometrical shapes, a typical decorative pattern found on Bronze wares. In addition to the decorative patterns, spots of rusted gold-like soil are visible throughout the cover. On the other side of the cover, an inscription of a prose by Qianlong is carved in kai-shu (regular style) to describe a history, function, and prophetic nature of a tiger identification devise.
ImageV ID:
M010A0024AS003
Rights:
Lee & Lee Communications