domed top carved with 2 dragons with gilded details among waves; Ming-style imperial seal on bottom; sides carved with organic designs

Ink Stick in Seal Form, 18th century

Cleverly moulded in the form of a large official seal, this ink cake has a pair of dragons cavorting amonst waves on its top. The reverse side, shown here, displays a Ming-style imperial seal-script legend in four large characters, T'ien-fu yung-ts'ang meaning, "eternal collection of the heavenly palace," This stick conforms in shape and concept to ink cakes made by the mid-eighteenth century ink maker, Wang Wei-kao.

Details
Title
Ink Stick in Seal Form
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2000.36.9
Curator Approved

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domed top carved with 2 dragons with gilded details among waves; Ming-style imperial seal on bottom; sides carved with organic designs