rectangular form with rounded corners; incised inscription with traces of gilt on one side; relief inscription on opposite side; relief inscription on one long side and one short side

Red Ink Cake, 1816

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Vermilion ink was used by the emperor for the corrections of memorials as well as by court officials and scholars for punctuation marks. This stick is cast on both sides with short poetic inscriptions. One side reads:

Ten years, like (as hard as) a rock,
One dot, like (as red as) lacquer.
The reverse reads:
Ink made by Wu Lien-p'u from Chiang-tso (north of the Yangtze River)
A relief inscription on the left edge of the stick provides a date of manufacture of 1816.

Details
Title
Red Ink Cake
Artist Life
19th century
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2000.36.10
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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rectangular form with rounded corners; incised inscription with traces of gilt on one side; relief inscription on opposite side; relief inscription on one long side and one short side