Name

”Homage to Gu Erniang”

Date

2013  box 2014

Stone Source and Type

Reclaimed roof slate probably Foudland quarry

Description.

Small round yan, the quality of the stone itself is almost perfect. I was trying for an 18th century restrained exquisiteness of conception with the front using a ‘taiji’ design for the well, copied from a Ming dynasty example.  The back is by contrast much more this side of the Gobi drawing heavily on the European ‘Celtic’ squiggles tradition that runs from prehistory.

Mineral Patterns.

None

Other info

”Homage to Gu Erniang” (顧二娘 Gu Erniang female inkstone maker, dates not known but early 18th Century. Arguably the most highly regarded historic named inkstone maker. A native of Suzhou, Gu Erniang's maiden name was recorded as Zao , birth and death is unknown, active in the reigns of Emperor Yongzheng and Qianlong) .

Dimensions in centimetres

Dia, 8.5  Depth, 1.45

Box:

Pear  shaped box in pear wood. L. 19.5, W. 11, D. 3.5.

Price

£320