A RARE IMPERIAL INSCRIBED INKCAKE

THE PROPERTY OF AN ASIAN COLLECTOR

Details

A RARE IMPERIAL INSCRIBED INKCAKE
QIANLONG CYCLICAL GENGYIN YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1770, AND OF THE PERIOD

The rectangular inkcake moulded in imitation of an inkstone, finely carved in shallow relief on one side with two playful dragons writhing in turbulent waves below ruyi-clouds, bordered by a raised band decorated with stylised sinuous kui dragons, the reverse with a long inscription bearing the Qianlong cylical gengyin date, followed by two square seals, the vertical peripheral edge with a moulded six-character reign mark on one side and the other with a five-character mark, Suichu tang cang mao, 'Ink from the collection of the Suichu Studio' (shallow chip); the fitted lacquer box decorated with two confronted descending dragons flanking a rectangular panel with the characters, yenmao, 'Inkstone-shaped ink', 19th century
6 11/16 in. (17 cm.) long

Lot Essay

Compare with a similarly moulded cinnabar inkcake dated to the same year of the Qianlong reign, sold in these Rooms, 29 April 2001, lot 529. The Suichu Studio, situated within the Forbidden Palace, was one of Qianlong's favourite studies. As implied by the name, meaning "a retreat", it was a study where the Emperor visited to escape the rigours of court life.

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