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Subject:Chinese Inkstone
Posted By: Stan Tue, Mar 24, 2015 IP: 24.147.30.200

I was thinking of buying this inkstone, but changed my mind. I liked the dragon motif. Since I had the pictures, I thought I'd put it here for your thoughts. The pictures were taken in the antique shop on a cloudy day. The color is jet black. I believe it is made from a ceramic material. It scratches easily with a large needle.

Cheers,
Stan







Subject:Re: Chinese Inkstone
Posted By: peter Wed, Mar 25, 2015

This one was carved/made of a soft stone. Pottery ink "stones" are usually made of underglaze blue porcelain and earthenware. When used frequently and over a long time, there is a depression in the place where the ink was rubbed most of the time. This one does not show much use.

Subject:Re: Chinese Inkstone
Posted By: Bill H Wed, Mar 25, 2015

From the way the material slumps around the impressed seals, I'd say it probably is a modern casting in resin and not carved by hand.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:What is the iconography?
Posted By: beadiste Thu, Mar 26, 2015

I'm not up to speed on Chinese dragon symbolism, but have been curious about the theme of two dragons seemingly exchanging breath (chi?) amidst swirling clouds and the flaming pearl.

Does it have a meaning, or mythology, or is simply a stereotype?

Here's a wild version in cloisonne...





Subject:Re: What is the iconography?
Posted By: rat Fri, Mar 27, 2015

it's usually dragons chasing a "pearl of wisdom", the mists/clouds being associated with dragons and their watery homes (eg: http://honolulumuseum.org/art/exhibitions/5196-flamingpearl)

Here's a worthwhile painting (you can enlarge and scroll through from right to left) featuring such a scene:
https://scrolls.uchicago.edu/scroll/nine-dragons

Subject:"Awesome" doesn't begin to describe this - thank you!
Posted By: beadiste Sun, Mar 29, 2015

I've bookmarked the spot - it's like reading a short story, the different personalities of the dragons and the way they're interacting (I smiled at the surfer dragon getting pounded in the waves, which segment is also astounding for the way the dragon's scales and horns and waves all resonate and blend with each other...).
The expression on the dragon that has caught the pearl is priceless.
And what is dragon #6 (reading from the right) - an aged dragon with horns worn to nubs? Or a young dragon with small horns and sharp teeth?

Oddly, the dragons depicted in Japanese cloisonne resemble these dragons more than do Chinese cloisonne works from the same time period - the Chinese dragons are much less spiky, and get more jovial and silly as the decades roll into WWII. (the example I posted above is a case in point)
Some of the 1900-1920s Chinese dragons, with their fuzzy round snouts and long looping bodies, remind me more of otters.

But I didn't mean to hijack this thread. Sorry.

Subject:Re: Chinese Inkstone
Posted By: Stan Thu, Mar 26, 2015

Bill,

I made the same observation hence my decision not to purchase. Your guess of resin is probably right. On consideration, the material probably scratched too easily to be ceramic.

I was enamored by the dragons on the lid and the bats and peaches inside. I'm glad I took a closer look.

Cheers,
Stan

Subject:Re: Chinese Inkstone
Posted By: Stan Sun, Mar 29, 2015

Actually, I am convinced that, if I ever contemplate buying an object, I should take pictures of it and put them up on my 24" iMac display. I see so much more that way.

Cheers,
Stan

Subject:Re: Chinese Inkstone
Posted By: peter Fri, Mar 27, 2015

It would be very easy to know whether it is resin.
1. Calculate the specific weight by putting it into water and measure the volume of water displaced, then weigh it and calculate the specific weight with these factors.
2. Heat a needle and see if it dissolves the resin. If the needle goes in, it likely is, if it remain unaffected, then it is not.

Subject:Re: Chinese Inkstone
Posted By: Stan Sun, Mar 29, 2015

Both a bit difficult to do in the environment of an antiques store. Hence my surreptitious scratch test.

Cheers,
Stan

Subject:Re: Chinese Inkstone
Posted By: rat Mon, Mar 30, 2015

fyi I've never seen an antique inkstone with a carved stone lid, but they are not uncommon on modern creations.


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