A Chinese square inkstick

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A Chinese square inkstick
carved with a scholar seated at a table before two figures in a fenced garden of willow trees and rockwork, the reverse with lines of calligraphy -- 4¾in. (12cm) wide, seal mark.
See Illustration.
Inscribed on the reverse with a poem entitled 'The Black Pond' which is a reference to the famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi (A.D.321-379) who was said to have blackened the water in a pond when practicing calligraphy, and also to have invented the 'orthadox style' of writing. Inscribed along one side 'Made on the order of Lord Cheng's household.

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