Inkstone c. 1740
choushaolung
minneapolisinstituteofart
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This inkstone, made around 1740 by Chou Shao-lung, is a beautiful example of Chinese craftsmanship. Made of stone, the inkstone features a recessed area for grinding ink, surrounded by carved clouds and a bird. Inkstones were essential tools for calligraphy and painting in East Asia, and this piece showcases the delicate artistry of the Qing dynasty. This particular inkstone, now part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art collection, is a testament to the enduring beauty and function of traditional Chinese art.
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The shape and properties of this inkstone from Duanzhou in Guangdong province derive from classical models of the late Tang and Song dynasties (10th century). A forty-two character inscription carved in official script (li shu) appears on the bottom, followed by a signature and two carved seals of Zhou Shaolong, an eighteenth-century inkstone carver. Duan inkstones became appreciated and collected by Song literary men. Some of the Tuan inkstones of both Su Shi (1036-1101) and Mi Fei (1051-1107) for instance have survived to the present day. Not until the Ming and Qing dynasties, however, did Duan inkstones become extremely high-quality scholar's objects. The most desirable were carved and inscribed with documentary verse, they soon became collector's items.
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