Lot 2847. An archaistic inscribed Duan inkstone with rubbing inkstone: Mark and period of Qianlong, rubbing: dated 1954. Estimate HK$700,000 — 900,000 (81,057 - 104,216 EUR). Photo Sotheby's.

of square section, the duan inkstone masterfully applied with green and russet lacquer in imitation of patinated bronze, each side of the exterior bearing an archaistic animal mask issuing a loop handle between a pair of confronted mythical beasts, all on a scrollwork ground, carved around the edge of the recessed base with verses in clerical script and signed Qianlong yuti, followed by one seal, de chong fu ('Sign of Virtue Within'), the base centred with a square enclosing archaic script characters, yi zisun ('To Benefit Future Generations'), wood base and cover; inkstone 7 by 13 by 13 cm, 2 3/4  by 5 1/8  by 5 1/8  in. 

together with a rubbing of two views of the inkstone

Shiqu Tang Yan ('Tang dynasty stone inkstone'), ink on paper, mounted hanging scroll, dated jiawu, corresponding to 1954, inscribed Shiyu jianshang ('appreciated by Shiyu') and with three seals. Photo Sotheby's.

rubbing 49.5 by 43.6 cm, 19 1/2  by 17 1/8  in. 

Provenance: An old Japanese family collection, Kobe (by repute).

Note: Compare a similar square inkstone made of refined clay, also dated to the Qianlong period, preserved in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, published in Treasures from the Chinese Scholar's Studio, Kyoto, 1992, cat. no. 11.

Qing Gaozong yuzhi shiwen quanji [Anthology of imperial Qianlong poems], yuzhi shi si ji [imperial poems, vol. 4], juan 82, p. 2.

Sotheby's. Literati / Curiosity II, Hong Kong, 05 avr. 2016, 10:15 AM