YONGZHENG PERIOD (1723-1735)

Details

A VERY RARE IMPERIAL YIXING STONEWARE INKSTONE
YONGZHENG PERIOD (1723-1735)
The inkstone is of circular form with a recessed channel encircling the interior. The sides of the exterior are exquisitely decorated in slip with a continuous scene depicting a bare, wintry landscape that centres on three islands in a river with a sampan, the branches of the windswept trees all in silhouette without leaves. On one island, a scholar is depicted leaning on his staff as he walks towards a hut, his attendant trailing behind. The stoneware is of a rich brown tone. The original fitted black lacquer box is finely decorated in gilt and red lacquer with four bats encircling a stylised floral medallion, within a scrolling border centred with lotus flowers. The interior of the cover is further embellished with scattered floral sprigs.
The ink stone 9 1/8 in. (23 cm.) diam., excluding fitted lacquer box

Provenance

Bonhams Hong Kong, 28 November 2011, lot 250

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Kate Hunt Director, Head of Department

khunt@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7752 3389

Lot Essay

This inkstone is notable for the exceptional quality of the intricate, detailed slip decoration and for being offered together with its original lacquer box. A related imperial Yixing stoneware inkstone dated to the Yongzheng period in the Palace Museum collection, Beijing, is illustrated in Yixing Zisha Wares in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 2009, p.193, pl. 111 (fig.1). However, the Palace Museum inkstone is decorated with bats and 'shou' characters amongst clouds and has no original lacquer box.

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