A LARGE AND MASSIVE PURPLE DUAN ‘TORTOISE AND CRANES’ INKSTONE, LATE MING DYNASTY
China, 16th-17th century. Of rectangular form, the ink palette elegantly sloping into the well, decorated with an undercut relief of gnarled pine branches hosting two cranes and offering shade to a turtle peeking out from under the foliage and rockwork below a partly obscured pearl and flowing ribbon. The stone is of a deep reddish-purple color with dark red and pale inclusions.


Provenance:
From a notable private collection in Bavaria, Germany.

Condition:
Excellent condition with expected old wear, traces of use including ink residue, minor nicks and light scratches overall. Beautiful, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 5,704 g
Dimensions: Length 30.5 cm


Cranes, tortoises, and pine trees
are all auspicious symbols. As birds with a long life span, cranes were associated with longevity, immortality, and wisdom, especially following the rise of Daoism from the Han dynasty. On the other hand, tortoises were one of the four auspicious beasts and symbolized longevity. Similarly, the pine tree symbolized endurance and longevity. The appearance of these three auspicious symbols implies a blessing of luck and longevity upon the owner.


Literature comparison:

Compare a related inkstone depicting a similarly carved pine tree and bird, 17.8 cm long, dated to the 16th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1993.378. Compare a rubbing of an inkstone with a tortoise amidst waves in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number FSC-R-445.




明末龜鶴齊齡青紫端硯


中國，十六至十七世紀。 成矩形，硯額浮雕成蒼松，上面有兩隻飛鶴，一隻烏龜松樹和岩石下探出頭。端石呈深紫色，內含深紅色和淺色内沁。


來源：
德國巴伐利亞私人收藏。

品相：
狀況良好，有一些磨損、使用痕跡、刻痕、表面淺劃痕、墨水殘留。自然細膩的包漿。

重量：5,704 克
尺寸：長30.5 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的十六世紀松樹鳥紋硯台，長17.8 厘米，收藏於大都會藝術博物館館藏編號1993.378。比較一件浪中龜硯，收藏於史密森國立亞洲藝術博物館，館藏編號FSC-R-445。