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Inkstone in the Shape of a Roof Tile with Seal Script Characters

歙石仿漢瓦當硯

1700s–1800s
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
She stone
Diameter: 14.9 cm (5 7/8 in.)
Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund 2023.50
Location: 240A Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy
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Did You Know?

The four large seal script characters on the base of this inkstone, 七葉永祥, may be read as "eternal good fortune for seven generations."

Description

This inkstone is particularly noteworthy for its inscriptions in two styles. The base shows four characters in seal script (zhuanshu) expressing auspicious, or favorable wishes, while the characters on the side in standard script (kaishu) record the name of the workshop and that of the collector’s studio.
Inkstones were used to grind solid ink cakes with the addition of water to produce liquid ink for brush painting and calligraphy.
Inkstone in the Shape of a Roof Tile with Seal Script Characters

Inkstone in the Shape of a Roof Tile with Seal Script Characters

1700s–1800s

Workshop of Jian Guzhai

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

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