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Ink Stick from an Imperially Commissioned Set of Ink Stick with Images and Poems of Famous West Lake Sites
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This is one of ten ink cakes of different shapes and colors stored in an exquisite lacquer box. Each is inscribed in gold with a poem by the Qianlong emperor, praising the ten famous sights of the Westlake in Hangzhou, near Shanghai. The Westlake is famous for its natural beauty; it was a favorite imperial destination and remains a tourist attraction today.<br><br>Ink cakes (also called ink sticks) are dissolved with the addition of water and ground on the surface of a flat stone into liquid ink for painting and calligraphy. The precious ink cakes here, however, have never been used.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Qianlong reign (1736–95) |
|---|---|
| Date | 1780–94 |
| Culture / Origin | China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95) |
| Medium | Molded ink in blue |
| Dimensions | Overall: 10.2 x 3.9 cm (4 x 1 9/16 in.) |
| Department | Chinese Art |
| Type | Miscellaneous |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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