Collection Online as of December 6, 2023

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

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.

Inscriptions

Inscription

乾隆年製

Inscription Translation

Qianlong nian zhi (Made in the reign of Qianlong)

Inscription Remark

on the side of the cake

Provenance

?–1942

Henry W. Kent [1866–1948], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art

1942–

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Citations

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

Exhibition history

History of The Chinese Book. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (organizer) (April 1-May 15, 1967).

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).