writing set

Writing set in a lidded box made from black lacquered wood, with 8 compartments. Inside is one large and one small ink stone, a red ink stick which is oval in section with raised dragon amid cloud design painted with gilt and inscribed on back with 'xiang long tian men ru zi wei', Towards the dragon gate, entering the Purple Star, another ink stick that inscribed on the back with 'Huishe Cao Su-gong zhi', Made by Cao Su-gong in Anhui province, two small metal containers, possibly made of paktong with stamped star pattern. There is another empty compartment for 2 brushes.

Cao Su-gong, 1615-89, gave up his official career in 1667 and took over an ink-making business from Wu Shu-da. He changed the studio name to Yisu Zhai and published an ink catalogue called Molin, The forest of ink. The Cao family business moved to Suzhou during the Qianlong period, 1736-1795, later moved to Shanghai in 1860.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
nn14443
Date
19th century
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 84 mm x 198 mm x 10 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
wood; slate; ink; metal
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
In storage
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Collection Information

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