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Carved Chinese Inkstone with Longevity Symbols and Marks

Offered by: Tishu

Description
A black carved Chinese inkstone with an conforming oval cover circa early 20th century (late Qing to Republic period). The inkstone appears to be slate stone and was likely a She type (SheYan), one of the four famous inkstones in China that comes from She County (Anhui Province) and Wuyuan County (Jiangxi Province). It features a slight scalloping edge with elaborate surface carving that depicts the Sanxings (three beloved gods): Fu, God of Fortune (top right), Lu, God of Prosperity (top center holding a Ruyi staff) and Shou, God of Longevity (center on the lid who is holding a magical peach and a staff with a gourd with a deer at the back) . A towering evergreen pine was placed on the left with scrolling clouds and bats (the sound of bat in Chinese is Fu, the fortune). A famous Chinese couplet flanks the lid that reads "Fortune is like the East Sea without bound; Longevity is like the Southern Mountain that never age". On the back of the inkstone, there is a mark in an archaic calligraphy "WenBaoZhai" (Literature Treasture Studio), which was the maker of this piece.
Inkstones had a history of thousands of years in Chinese culture and it was deemed as one of the four precious items for a scholar's study. Many were collected as artefact throughout history and pass down as family heirlooms.

More Information

Origin:	China
Period:	1900-1919
Materials:	stone
Condition:	Good. Wear consistent with age and use. contact wear and rubbing on the base as expected, ink residuals remained in the inkwell and also ink stains around the rim of the well.
Creation Date:	early 20th century
Styles / Movements:	Bespoke, Asian, Traditional
Patterns:	Asian/Oriental, Florals/Botanical, Traditional
Incollect Reference #:	440088

Dimensions

W.	6 in;	H.	1 in;	D.	9 in;
W.	15.24 cm;	H.	2.54 cm;	D.	22.86 cm;

Message from Seller:

Our collection ranges from Neolithic Art to 20th century collectible art and design. It spans 5000 thousand years of history and crosses many civilizations and cultures. Our aesthetic strongholds are Mid-century studio design, Japanese and Korean art, Asian Textile Art and Contemporary Aboriginal Art. The diversity is united behind our singular vision to seek for timeless beauty and driven purely by our passion