Ink cake with cyclical imagery

late 19th–early 20th century

Not on view

Chinese ink is made by mixing animal glue with carbon collected from burning resinous wood or vegetable oil. It is molded into various shapes, including rectangular tablets and round cakes, then ground on an inkstone with water to produce liquid ink. Some ink cakes are further embellished with molded designs. This disk has been decorated with the twelve zodiac animals and a Western-style clock face on one side and a poem in elegant calligraphy on the other.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

清晚期　十二生肖墨
Title: Ink cake with cyclical imagery
Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Date: late 19th–early 20th century
Culture: China
Medium: Ink with gold
Dimensions: Diam. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm)
Classification: Ink
Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, in honor of Douglas Dillon, 2001
Object Number: 2001.591
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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