MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

Details

AN 'ORCHID PAVILION' DUAN INK STONE
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
The rectangular ink stone is carved on the top with a scene from the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, all surrounding a flat, irregularly-shaped palette beneath the inkwell carved and pierced in the form of a flowing stream. The four narrow sides are further carved with scenes from the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, depicting scholars at leisure in a lush bamboo grove by the riverside. The sunken base is incised entirely with the Preface to the Poems Collected from the Orchid Pavilion.
8 7/8 in. (22.6 cm.) long, wood base, wood cover with poetic inscription followed by 'ordered by Bi Yuan wuxiong, composed by Li Gui and inscribed by Zhu Chen'

Provenance

Fujita Museum, Osaka, acquired prior to 1940.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Sale room notice

Please note that this lot has an additional wood box.

Lot Essay

The Lanting (Orchid Pavilion) gathering took place in the ninth year of the Yonghe reign (AD 353) of the Eastern Jin dynasty (AD 317-420). Forty-two scholars were invited to the Orchid Pavilion near Shanyin, Zhejiang province, for the Spring Purification Festival. The participants were given one initial character and were tasked to compose poems. Those who produced two poems had to drink one cup of wine while those who only composed one poem drank two cups, and those who failed to compose any poetry at all, paid a forfeit of consuming three cups.

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