Ink Tablet 1871 - 1933

This ink tablet, created by Xiu Fangzhai between 1871 and 1933, features a carved design of a mountainous landscape, a popular subject in Chinese art. The intricate detail of the carving, depicting a series of peaks and valleys, evokes the beauty and majesty of nature. Ink tablets like this were traditionally used to grind ink for calligraphy and painting, and they often served as small works of art in their own right. Now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, this small but exquisitely crafted tablet showcases the skill and artistic vision of its maker.