Chinese Green Duan Stone Inkstone | Carved Bird & Ink Well | Antique c.1850 (0913)

Summary

A fine antique Chinese green Duan stone inkstone of rectangular form, c.1850, with a stylised carving of a bird in flight around the ink well. A well-used and characterful example of a type highly regarded by collectors of Chinese scholar's objects and Asian antiques.

Description

Duan inkstones have been prized in China for many centuries and are counted among the celebrated "Four Treasures of the Study" alongside the brush, ink, and paper. Quarried in Guangdong Province, Duan stone is valued for its fine texture and ability to produce ink smoothly without excessive wear to the ink stick - qualities that made it the preferred choice of Chinese scholars and literati for generations.

This example is of classic rectangular form with a flat grinding surface and a well at the head, carved with a stylised bird with wings outswept in flight - a motif associated with scholarly aspiration in Chinese literati culture. The well features an undercut to help retain the ink solution, a practical refinement found on better quality examples. The stone displays the characteristic green Duan colouring with attractive natural marbling, a sandy-coloured area, and a darker inclusion at the head end. No character marks are detectable.

Dating Chinese inkstones with certainty is notoriously difficult, and we have been transparent in our assessment. The piece has been examined by two experienced inkstone collectors, both of whom suggested a mid-19th century date as the most likely attribution. It is unlikely to be an earlier piece, but equally does not present as one of the modern reproductions now found in quantity - it carries clear signs of genuine use and age.

Condition

Some nick indents to the grinding face. Slight damage to the underside of the undercuts in the well. Signs of general use and wear consistent with age. Slight nicks to the edges, with one slightly larger nick to the upper left top.

Approximate Measurements

• Length: 11cm (4.375 in)
• Width: 7.5cm (2.875 in)
• Weight: 418g (14.7 oz) before packing

Stock Code: 0913 NV17-2

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