TWO RARE IMPERIAL MOULDED AND CARVED INK CAKES

Details

TWO RARE IMPERIAL MOULDED AND CARVED INK CAKES
QIANLONG MARKS AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

The first in elongated form with octagonal sides, delicately carved on one side with scholars seated in a pavilion observing fellow companions in various pursuits, beside a river where wine cups float along the running stream, within a raised border carved with bats amidst ruyi-clouds, the border of the reverse side similarly decorated surrounding the two-character title: Yumo, 'Imperial Ink' above Qianlong Xinmao nian zhi, 'Made in the Qianlong Xinmao year (1771)', followed by a four-character sealmark, Lanting Xiuxi within a square, the two longer sides each moulded with the characters, Yanqu Lou Zhencang, 'Collection of the Yanqu Pavilion'; the second ink cake of octagonal shape, finely carved with a scholar seated in a pavilion situated by a lake with mountains in the far distance, the reverse inscribed with the characters, Yongzuo wenfang shubilun, 'What is better than using this (ink) in the studio', surrounded by archaistic dragons
The larger, 6 in. (15.2 cm.) wide, boxes (2)

Lot Essay

The larger of the inkcakes was made for the Yanqu Lou, 'The Yanqu Pavilion', located within the Ningshou Gong, 'Palace of Peaceful Longevity'. The Yanqu Lou was constructed the same year, 1771, as when the present ink cake was made.

More from The Imperial Sale

View All