Lot Essay
The Studio of Retreat, situated within the Forbidden Palace, was one of Qianlong's favourite studies. As implied by its name, it was a studio where the Emperor visited to escape the rigours of court life.
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A RARE IMPERIAL INSCRIBED RECTANGULAR CINNABAR INKCAKE
QIANLONG CYCLICAL GENGYIN YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1770 A.D., AND OF THE PERIOD
Formed in imitation of a rectangular inkstone, finely carved in shallow relief on one side with two playful dragons writhing in breaking waves below ruyi-clouds, bordered by a raised band decorated with stylised sinuous kui-dragons, the reverse with a long inscription bearing the Qianlong cyclical geng yin date, followed by two square seals, the vertical peripherial edge with a moulded six-character reign mark on one side and the other with a five-character mark, Suichu Tang Cang Mo, Ink from the Collection of the Studio of Retreat
6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm.) long
QIANLONG CYCLICAL GENGYIN YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1770 A.D., AND OF THE PERIOD
Formed in imitation of a rectangular inkstone, finely carved in shallow relief on one side with two playful dragons writhing in breaking waves below ruyi-clouds, bordered by a raised band decorated with stylised sinuous kui-dragons, the reverse with a long inscription bearing the Qianlong cyclical geng yin date, followed by two square seals, the vertical peripherial edge with a moulded six-character reign mark on one side and the other with a five-character mark, Suichu Tang Cang Mo, Ink from the Collection of the Studio of Retreat
6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm.) long