Dimensions: Height 4 cm Wide 24 Depth 21 cm

Weight: 4041 grams

Carved from a dense, dark stone with a subtly mottled surface, this scholar’s inkstone is formed with a broad, shallow grinding well framed by gently rounded walls. The exterior is decorated in low relief with bamboo stalks and leaves, a motif closely associated with the ideals of the literati—resilience, integrity, and cultivated simplicity.

The reverse is sculpted with softly undulating planes, giving the piece a sculptural presence beyond its utilitarian function. Traces of accumulated ink and wear within the well attest to prolonged scholarly use, reinforcing its authenticity as a working object of the studio rather than a purely decorative piece.

Inkstones of this type formed an essential component of the “Four Treasures of the Scholar’s Studio” (brush, ink, paper, and inkstone) and were prized not only for the quality of the stone—capable of producing a fine, even ink—but also for refined carving that reflected the owner’s taste and learning.

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