Longde (“Virtuous Power of Dragons”) ink-cake
18th century or later
The writing brush, paper, ink-cake, and inkstone are the “four treasures” of the Chinese scholar’s study—desk accessories prized by all who were literate. Even though ink-cakes are ground down during use, they were sometimes molded into highly elaborate forms. This piece shows two dragons chasing an actual embedded pearl. The original mold was one of a set designed by the imperial workshop master craftsman Liu Yuan (ca. 1621–1691), to make ink for the emperor Kangxi (reigned 1662–1722) in the Palace of Cultivating One’s Nature (Yangxing dian)
Ink with pearl
2 1/2 x 3/4 in. (6.35 x 1.91 cm)
L.: 6 1/8 in.
Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection
38.15
Provenance: Purchased Yamanaka, New York, 1938 for Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
