Busacca Gallery

Here you have a great old antique Chinese jade Inkstone! A quantity of ink can be ground from a small pool of water placed on the inkstone. Water can be stored in a water-holding cavity on the inkstone itself. The inkstone, together with the ink brush, inkstick and Xuan paper, are the four writing implements traditionally known as the Four Treasures of the Study. We are committed to enhancing our customer’s lives by discovering creating, and pointing out only the best art we can find in the world today. We Are Taste-Makers, Art Advisers & Consultants.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inkstone

The inkstone is Chinese in origin and is used in calligraphy and painting. Extant inkstones date from early antiquity in China. Stimulated by the social economy and culture, the demand for inkstones increased during the Tang Dynasty (618-905) and reached its height in the Song Dynasty (960–1279). Song Dynasty inkstones can be of great size and often display a delicacy of carving. Song Dynasty inkstones can also exhibit a roughness in their finishing. Dragon designs of the period often reveal an almost humorous rendition; the dragons often seem to smile. From the subsequent Yuan Dynasty, in contrast, dragons display a ferocious appearance. The Qianlong Emperor had his own imperial collection of inkstones catalogued into a twenty-four chapter compendium entitled Xiqing yanpu (Hsi-ch'ing yen-p'u). Many of these inkstones are housed in the National Palace Museum collection in Taipei.