Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1506-1521
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Dimensions:Height: 7 centimetres Length: 24.80 centimetres Width: 14 centimetres
Description:
Porcelain rectangular ink slab and cover with underglaze blue decoration. This rectangular ink slab has stepped edges and a slightly domed cover which does not fit well. The base is double layered and there are two quatrefoil openings in it. Inside, the ink slab itself is unglazed apart from a quatrefoil indent in which the ground ink powder could be mixed with water for calligraphy. The top of the cover is painted with a square filled with Arabic calligraphy, surrounded by ‘ruyi’ heads on each side and by a larger diamond-shaped frame; two single roundels each containing further Arabic inscriptions are painted above and below this. The sides of the cover are painted with ‘ruyi’ heads and dots. The base is decorated with ‘ruyi’ scrolls on the sides and a six-character Zhengde reign mark in a double square on the centre of the base.
IMG
![图片[1]-ink-stone BM-Franks.147.a-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00942476_001.jpg)
![图片[2]-ink-stone BM-Franks.147.a-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00015906_001.jpg)
![图片[3]-ink-stone BM-Franks.147.a-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00355541_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:The three inscriptions of the lid were translated by Sir A.W. Franks in 1876 as “Strive for excellence in penmanship, for it is one of the keys of livelihood”. According to common Islamic belief, being a good Arabic calligrapher could bring one closer to God. The same inscription may be found on the cover of a box in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; this cover appears to be married to a base from a different object.
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Dimensions:Height: 7 centimetres Length: 24.80 centimetres Width: 14 centimetres
Description:
Porcelain rectangular ink slab and cover with underglaze blue decoration. This rectangular ink slab has stepped edges and a slightly domed cover which does not fit well. The base is double layered and there are two quatrefoil openings in it. Inside, the ink slab itself is unglazed apart from a quatrefoil indent in which the ground ink powder could be mixed with water for calligraphy. The top of the cover is painted with a square filled with Arabic calligraphy, surrounded by ‘ruyi’ heads on each side and by a larger diamond-shaped frame; two single roundels each containing further Arabic inscriptions are painted above and below this. The sides of the cover are painted with ‘ruyi’ heads and dots. The base is decorated with ‘ruyi’ scrolls on the sides and a six-character Zhengde reign mark in a double square on the centre of the base.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:The three inscriptions of the lid were translated by Sir A.W. Franks in 1876 as “Strive for excellence in penmanship, for it is one of the keys of livelihood”. According to common Islamic belief, being a good Arabic calligrapher could bring one closer to God. The same inscription may be found on the cover of a box in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; this cover appears to be married to a base from a different object.
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