This antique Duan inkstone is really a unique masterpiece. On the front, it features a depiction of the lychee fruit, famously beloved by Yang Guifei, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. On the back, a turtle is floating in a pond against the backdrop of a full moon. The round greenish-gray spot contrasts a thick chocolate surface of the stone and was skillfully left as a moon. Close observation reveals hairline patterns on it, resembling those of a real moon.

Around the turtle is an engraving of four Chinese characters which read "Yuewei Caotang,” the cottage of Ji Yun. Ji Yun (also known as Ji Xiaolan or Ji Chunfan) is a central figure in the compilation of the "Siku Quanshu". He is a prominent scholar-official representing the Qing Dynasty, specifically the Qianlong era, in China.

The inscription on the back of the inkstone recounts Ji Yun's acquisition of the piece and reflects his personal thoughts.

Ji Yun had an inkstone obsession. After his passing, his family compiled a few copies of the catalog, summarizing rubbings of inkstones with ink from the family collection.

In one of the facsimiles of the catalog, an inkstone featuring a lychee resembles this inkstone.

However, while the catalog depicts only engraved text on the reverse side, this particular inkstone stands out with its beautifully carved turtle accompanying the inscription. Though not explicitly listed in the catalog, it is plausible that this inkstone was indeed part of Ji Yun's esteemed collection.

Availability: This remarkable inkstone is currently available on eBay. You can view the listing here.