There is something truly special about this Duan inkstone. A well-known seal engraving artist from China once examined this inkstone and suggested that it might have belonged to Puyi, the last emperor of China. While there's no proof to support this claim, the inkstone indeed feels as though it was meant for someone of great power. It exudes a sense of nobility.
It's not overly detailed or crowded with flashy graphics. Instead, it features a minimal design, with each element carefully carved to convey a subtle message. The dragon, though somewhat cartoonish, offers hints, leaving it up to you to complete the picture with your imagination. The more you observe, the more you discover, allowing you to create your own unique image in your mind.
The dragon's whiskers resemble those of a catfish, extending not from its nostrils but from its eyes. Its face has a shape more akin to that of a dog, and its legs resemble those of chickens. The dragon is depicted as launching something like fire from its mouth, with a small portion of its tail emerging from thick clouds.
What makes this inkstone particularly unique is the carving of a dragon inside the well, rather than on the border as is often seen. This placement is uncommon, perhaps because ink residues can stick to the carving and become difficult to clean after grinding an ink stick.
When fresh water is poured into the well, the engraved dragon becomes submerged, creating a scene that sparks the imagination - a dragon swimming within the stone.
Placing the inkstone in the sun, the scattered clouds in the mostly blue sky, combined with the sunlight reflecting on the water, bring the engraved dragon to life, adding a touch of realism that connects this man-made creature to the natural world.
Centuries ago, before the days of TV or the internet, privileged people spent much of their time admiring stones. A simple detail like an engraved dragon could have possibly sparked hours of conversation. People in those times certainly must have had far more imagination than we do today.
Availability: This remarkable inkstone is currently available on eBay. You can view the listing here.
