AN INSCRIBED 'DUAN' 'PHOENIX' INKSTONE BY JI NAN, QING DYNASTY, DAOGUANG PERIOD, DATED TO THE RENWU YEAR (IN ACCORDANCE WITH 1822)

carved in the form of a highly stylised phoenix, its body conforming to the curved edge of the stone, the reverse with a bird of identical outline carved in shallow relief with a natural green mark in the stone forming its eye, inscribed with a poem in lishu referring to the 'phoenix pool', followed by a dated inscription 'inscribed by Ji Nan on a summer day of the renwu year' and one seal of the artist, shouqiao, lacquered wood box and cover

Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2nd November 1994, lot 302.

The inkstone is in very good condition overall. The actual colour is darker than in the catalogue illustration. The accompanying lacquered wood box is also in good condition with some typical light scratches.
"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."

Ji Nan (1760-1834) was an official from Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, where he had a garden called Yiyu cao tang. Ji was noted for his writing and poetry, as well as for his love of gardening. He was also a painter of note, especially for his paintings of prunus blossoms, which he painted red.

The poem may be translated as follows:

This person arrived at the Fenghuang Pond;
Always craving fame, but too late for regrets.
Imitating well the new style of Yutang.
When is the time to sing peacefully?

The inscription mentions the Fenghuang Pond, which used to be located within the Forbidden City, and the Yutang, another name of the Hanlin Academy; hence the poem appears to express the daunting ambitions of scholars and their need for peacefulness and quietness. See an inkstone with a related design, with an inscription by Xu Dinghe (1834-1911) and a cyclical date corresponding to 1873, in the National Museum of History, Taipei, illustrated in Inkstones Through the Ages, Taipei, 1998, p. 129.