AN IMPERIALLY INSCRIBED IMPERIAL OCTAGONAL INKSTONE QIANLONG PERIOD, DATED TO THE BINGSHEN YEAR 1776

the She inkstone of flat octagonal form, carved to one side with a slightly graded surface pooling the water in a small well, the recessed base on the reverse inscribed with a long poem dated to the bingshen year (corresponding to 1776), followed by two seals, De chong fu ('Sign of Virtue Within') and Hui xin bu yuan ('Enlightened Mind Not Far'), below a five-character title at the top reading Fang Tang Guanxiang yan ('Imitating the Tang dynasty Inkstone of Observing Heaven'), fitted zitan box

Purchased in Qingdao, circa 1908 (by repute).
Baude Collection, Dresden (by repute).
Sotheby’s London, 16^th May 2007, lot 283.

Ostasiatische Kunst Museum, Berlin, 2001-2003.
The Imperial Studio, Littleton and Hennessy Asian Art, London, 2009, cat. no. 15.

The overall condition is very good. The grinding surface bears light circular scratches and a few shallow flakes from use. The edges have almost no nicks except for a minute one on the edge of the pool. The inscribed side is very good. The box is in very good condition with only ink stains to the silk lining.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The inscription can be translated as follows:
Imitation Tang Guanxiang ('Observing Heaven') Inkstone

The ancient sage observed heaven,
And put his ideas to pen.
Although eight trigrams were drawn,
Their principles were primordial.
Who has made this inkstone
To expound on The Book of Changes?
With four sides and four corners,
Neither a square nor a circle,
Further adding yin and yang,
Now all components are present.
Playful words to add on it,
Choosing a stone to imitate it.
Dripping dew to grind ink red,
It will aid me till the end of day.
Imperial inscription on the New Year's Day of the bingshen year

The present inkstone takes its form from one of the ten old inkstones of particular fine quality from the palace collection chosen by the Qianlong Emperor in the 14^th year of his reign (1749) to be bestowed with a name and dating. The first of these inkstones was an octagonal duan stone, named Guanxiang and attributed to the Tang period by the emperor. A closely related example, carved with the same poem, was sold in these rooms, 8^th April 2011, lot 2810.

The current inkstone is made of the highly-prized She stone, a dark slate and siltstone produced in the Shexian area in Anhui. Its tight structure makes it particularly suited for grinding ink. Many scholars consider She a superior stone to Duan. Ouyang Xiu (AD 1007–1072) for example claimed that She stone from Longwei is far superior to any other stone for ink grinding. Calligrapher Cai Xiang (1012–1067) also preferred She stone, and went as far as comparing it to the famous jade disc Heshibi.