Songhua Warm Inkstone

The set of Songhua warm inkstone consists of an inkstone made of Songhua stone and a cloisonné box used to support the inkstone. The Songhua River Basin in northeast China was the ancestral homeland of Qing-dynasty rulers, and inkstones made of stone from the river were exclusive to the Qing royal court.

Carved with dragon patterns, this inkstone features delicate texture and elegant blue-green color. On one side of the inkstone, an engraved lotus leaf-shaped pool was used to hold water or ink. Water was injected into a hole on the edge of the pool to prevent the inkstone from cracking when heated. The surface of the inkstone has become depressed due to long-time usage.

The inkstone is equipped with a cloisonné box with dragon patterns, which features neat filigree lines. The blue cloisonné enamel part was decorated with dragon and peach patterns, making it a masterpiece of Chinese cloisonné . The box was decorated with hollowed-out copper gilt motifs. To prevent the ink from freezing in cold winter, charcoal was burned inside the box, and the hollowed-out parts allowed air to circulate, sustaining the burning of the charcoal. The bottom of the box was engraved with the mark "Made in the Kangxi reign".

The inkstone and the box are inseparable and boast ingenious design and superb craftsmanship, testifying to the wit of ancient Chinese craftsmen.

松花石暖硯

松花石暖硯由硯與承托硯的掐絲琺瑯盒共同組成。中國東北的松花江是清代祖先發(fā)祥地，由此地江石制成的硯，專供清代皇室御用。石硯四周雕琢螭紋，硯體呈青綠色，質(zhì)地細(xì)膩，色澤淡雅。硯上一側(cè)雕荷葉形墨池，用于盛放清水或墨汁，池邊有水孔，向內(nèi)注水可防止硯石加熱時(shí)開裂。硯堂表面凹陷，應(yīng)為長久研墨所致。

此硯配有掐絲琺瑯螭龍紋硯盒，掐絲線條工整，藍(lán)色掐絲琺瑯部位，飾以螭龍、壽桃，堪稱佳品。盒周裝飾銅鎏金鏨花鏤空螭紋。冬日寒冷，為防止研墨結(jié)冰，盒內(nèi)可燃炭，空氣通過盒周鏤空處流通，保證炭火不熄。盒底部鐫刻“康熙年制”。

暖硯與硯盒，不即不離，渾然一體，其設(shè)計(jì)理念之奇巧、制造工藝之精良，令人嘆為觀止。中國古代工匠之竭盡巧思，于此可見一斑。