Title
Inkstone
Year/Period
The second year of the Xuantong period, c.1910
Region
China
Material
Accession No.
1994-00315
Collection of
This blue and white inkstone is decorated with 'Three Abundances' - peach, pomegranate and finger citron. With four characters meaning 'Made by Liu' and 'Hall of Faith'. The hue of the cobalt pigment has been likened to the brilliant blue colour characteristic of the Kangxi period (1662-1722). The glaze is whiter with an icy feel.The inkstone was one of the four treasures of the scholar's studio; the other three being the ink, brush and paper. The center of the inkstone was left unglazed and undecorated to provide a rough surface for grinding ink. Natural stones were favoured but from the late Ming period onwards, ceramic inkslabs were made in great quantites - the most common shape being that of a flattened cylinder.
