• Additional view of object
  • Additional view of object
  • Additional view of object
Jun 19, 2015
Jun 19, 2015
Jun 22, 2015

Ink Stick from an Imperially Commissioned Set of Ink Stick with Images and Poems of Famous West Lake Sites

Ink Stick from an Imperially Commissioned Set of Ink Stick with Images and Poems of Famous West Lake Sites

1780–94

Part of a set. See all set records

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign

(1736–95)

Molded ink in blue

Overall: 7.8 x 3.9 cm (3 1/16 x 1 9/16 in.)

Gift of Henry W. Kent 1942.215.5

Location

not on view

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Description

This is one of ten ink cakes of different shapes and colors stored in an exquisite lacquer box. Each is inscribed in gold with a poem by the Qianlong emperor, praising the ten famous sights of the Westlake in Hangzhou, near Shanghai. The Westlake is famous for its natural beauty; it was a favorite imperial destination and remains a tourist attraction today.

Ink cakes (also called ink sticks) are dissolved with the addition of water and ground on the surface of a flat stone into liquid ink for painting and calligraphy. The precious ink cakes here, however, have never been used.

See also
Collection: 
China - Qing Dynasty
Department: 
Chinese Art
Type of artwork: 
Miscellaneous
Medium: 
Molded ink in blue
Credit line: 
Gift of Henry W. Kent

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