A RARE LARGE INSCRIBED 'ORCHID PAVILION' DUAN INKSTONE
A RARE LARGE INSCRIBED 'ORCHID PAVILION' DUAN INKSTONE

SONG-MING DYNASTY (960-1644)

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A RARE LARGE INSCRIBED 'ORCHID PAVILION' DUAN INKSTONE
SONG-MING DYNASTY (960-1644)
Of rectangular form, the upper surface of the stone is carved with a smooth palette, one end with a depression forming the ink-well, all within a raised border, one vertical side incised to depict a scholar seated in a pavilion observing fellow companions in various pursuits, beside a flowing stream detailed with floating wine cups. The scene continues on one short vertical side, with the remaining sides inscribed with a double archaistic dragon within a circle followed by a long text describing the literary gathering at the Orchid Pavilion. The underside hollowed with a collector's sealmark, Daiyin chuanbao fangshi jiawan, surrounded by further inscription, Baotan Zhai Zhencang, and Ye Zhishen jizeng.
10 1/16 (25.5 cm.) long, Japanese wood box

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Ruben Lien
Ruben Lien

Lot Essay

The name Ye Zhishen inscribed on the base of the inkstone is an important bronze collector and epigraphist whose dates were given as 1779-1863, cf. Zhongguo Meishujia Renmin Cidian, Shanghai renmin chubanshe, 1985, p. 1216. The inscription Baotan Zhai Zhencang, 'Precious collection of the Baotan Studio indicates that this was a gift from Ye Zhishen to a person whoes studio name is Baotan Zhai.

The text is known as the 'Lanting Preface', originally written by the greatest of all calligraphers, Wang Xizhi (circa 307-365). The Lanting (Orchid Pavilion) gathering took place in the ninth year of the Yonghe reign of the Eastern Jin dynasty (353). A total of forty-two scholars were invited to the Orchid Pavilion near Shanyin, Zhejiang province, for the Spring Purification Festival where a scholarly game took place. The participants were tasked to compose poems having each been given an initial character. Those who produced two poems had to drink one cup of wine whilst 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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