An Imperial vermillion octagonal ink cake - Qianlong

Moulded with a simple raised border enclosing a finely rendered scene of a scholar seated in his studio, on a balustraded terrace by a lake with a temple in the distance surrounded by mountains, the details picked out with gilt, the centre of the reverse fashioned with a cartouche of conforming outline inscribed with the characters yongzuo wenfang shubilun, surrounded by archaistic foliate dragons, the left side inscribed with the characters Qianlong nian, the right with the characters Yunzhen Zhai cangmo (ink collection of Yunzhen Studio) fitted box. 10.2cm (4in) long. (2). - Estimate: HK$40,000 - 60,000, £2,600 - 3,900 - Unsold.

Footnote: What is commonly referred to as the Yuanming Yuan in Chinese is actually made up of three connected gardens: the Yuanming Yuan, Changchun Yuan and Qichun Yuan. The Yunzhen Zhai is a studio located in the Changchun Yuan to the east of Yuanming Yuan. The Changchun Yuan occupies one third the area of the Yuanming Yuan, and was built by Qianlong as his residence upon his abdication from the throne.

清乾隆 御製《用佐文房孰比倫》朱墨

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Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Paintings, 29 May 2008. Island Ballroom, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong Hotel, Central, Hong Kong