The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 24, 2024

Imperially Commissioned Set of Ink Sticks with Images and Poems of Famous West Lake Sites

Imperially Commissioned Set of Ink Sticks with Images and Poems of Famous West Lake Sites

1780–94
(1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)
Molded ink in yellow, blue, black, green, red, brown, white, and gold
Average: 3.9 x 8.3 cm (1 9/16 x 3 1/4 in.)
Gift of Henry W. Kent 1942.215
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

The inscription in mother-of-pearl inlay on the box’s cover says: Imperially Made Gold Inscribed Poems of Images of [the Ten] Sights of the Westlake.

Description

Each ink stick depicts one of the Ten Scenes of the West Lake on one side, and a corresponding imperial poem on the other, composed on emperor Qianlong’s fifth southern inspection tour in 1780. Notably, the ink sticks’ colors and shapes correspond with the poems’ respective content.

An inscription on one ink stick identifies this set as a gift to the emperor by Jiang Lan, an official from Anhui, a province known for its excellence in ink, paper making, and printing. Imperial records note that 10 more sets of West Lake inks were presented as a tribute by Gioroi Giking (Chinese: Jueluo Jiqing, 1753–1802), a Zhejiang provincial governor and a bannerman (Manchu native).
  • ?–1942
    Henry W. Kent [1866–1948], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1942–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • The poems on the ink sticks are published in Yuzhi shiji 御製詩集 [Collection of imperial poetry], vol. 4, juan 71, 6b–8b; and Qinding nanzun shengdian 欽定南巡盛典 [Grand ritual of the southern tour], juan 17, 17b–28b.
    Wang Chi-chien. "Notes on Chinese Ink." Metropolitan Museum Studies, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Dec., 1930). Reproduced: pp. 114-133, fig. 14 www.jstor.org
    Wang Chi-chien. "Notes on Chinese Ink." Metropolitan Museum Studies, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Dec., 1930), pp. 114-133 Reproduced: pp. 114-133, fig. 14 www.jstor.org
    Hollis, Howard. "A Gift of Chinese Inks." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan., 1946), pp. 3-5, 11. Mentioned: pp. 3-5, 11 www.jstor.org
    Von Spee, Clarissa. “The Power of Writing: A new display in the Chinese galleries focuses on inscriptions.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine vol. 58, no. 5 (September/October 2018): 12-13. Reproduced and Mentioned: P. 13.
  • China's Southern Paradise: Treasures from the Lower Yangzi Delta. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 10, 2023-January 7, 2024).
    Power and Possession: Chinese Calligraphy and Inscribed Objects – Chinese Gallery Rotation 240a, 241c. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (August 13, 2018-February 3, 2019).
    History of The Chinese Book. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (organizer) (April 1-May 15, 1967).
  • {{cite web|title=Imperially Commissioned Set of Ink Sticks with Images and Poems of Famous West Lake Sites|url=false|author=|year=1780–94|access-date=24 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1942.215