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Lot Essay
In the Ming dynasty, Shexian and Xiuning in Anhui province became renowned for inkmaking which continued into the Qing dynasty. Hu Kaiwen, a native of Xiuning, Anhui province, was named one of the 'Four Masters' in inkmaking, discussed in The Four Treasures of the Study - Inksticks and Writing Brushes, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2005, p. 21.
Originally named Zheng, alias Tianzhu, with studio name Cangpei shi, Hu was active during the Qianlong period (1736-1795). His shop manufactured both single inkcakes and sets of decorated inkcakes as the present lot, which were often sent for the Court. He manufactured imitating Song-style inkcakes are in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, see op. cit., pp. 103-104, nos. 91-92. After Hu's death, his family continued to manufacture ink, using his name. Compare with a set of four colour-decorated inkcakes by Hu Kaiwen depicting figures sold at Christie's London, 8 November 2005, lot 42.
The five seals read: Hu shi Kaiwen (Kaiwen of the Hu family), Cangpei shi, Cangpei, Kaiwen and Kaiwen fanggu (Kaiwen imitating the ancient).
Originally named Zheng, alias Tianzhu, with studio name Cangpei shi, Hu was active during the Qianlong period (1736-1795). His shop manufactured both single inkcakes and sets of decorated inkcakes as the present lot, which were often sent for the Court. He manufactured imitating Song-style inkcakes are in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, see op. cit., pp. 103-104, nos. 91-92. After Hu's death, his family continued to manufacture ink, using his name. Compare with a set of four colour-decorated inkcakes by Hu Kaiwen depicting figures sold at Christie's London, 8 November 2005, lot 42.
The five seals read: Hu shi Kaiwen (Kaiwen of the Hu family), Cangpei shi, Cangpei, Kaiwen and Kaiwen fanggu (Kaiwen imitating the ancient).