A Jade Vase “Elephant” Ink Stone

The jade ink-stone appeared posterior to stone ink-stone and was popular in the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. Its form is diverse and similar to the same period of one that made of stone. In addition to stone and jade ink-stones, there are also agate, crystal, jadeite and other ones as well.

This ink-stone is made of white jade, which is slightly sprinkled with gold skin, carved into a flat vase with a tiny mouth, bundle neck, slip shoulder, bulging belly, rectangular circle foot and a thick ink-stone body. The mouth, neck and circle foot of the vase are all with the role of back word grain, up and down echo. An elephant head is carved as the vase ear on both sides of the neck, and in the middle of the neck carved brocade ground with double legendary dragon pattern. The vase mouth dug deep into a concave and curved olive-shaped ink-stone pool. The vase’s belly is the ink-stone hall. There is a low relief elephant on the back of the vase, which is standing with peaceful manner.

The words for “elephant” and “vase” are homophones for “auspiciousness” and “peace” in Chinese, so that the implication is “peace and auspiciousness” and “to be as good a general as a minister ”.

This jade ink-stone has exquisite design, unique shape, fine and vivid decorative carving, which is the best instrument of the study.

A JADE VASE “ELEPHANT” INK STONE
Qing Dynasty
Length: 16cm
Width: 11cm
Shanghai Antique & Curio Communication Center