Chinese scholar's ink blocks, ink stones, and ink cakes are traditional tools used in Chinese calligraphy and painting. They have a long history in Chinese art and culture, dating back to ancient times.

Ink blocks and ink cakes, also known as inksticks, are made from soot and glue, and were originally used in conjunction with ink stones to grind the ink and create a smooth, flowing consistency. They are often decorated with intricate designs or inscriptions, and can be produced in a variety of colours, from black to shades of gray and brown. The earliest ink blocks were produced during the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), and were often made from animal bones or charred plant material. During the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), ink blocks became more widely used and were often decorated with intricate designs or inscriptions.

Ink stones are small, rectangular stones used to grind more...

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A Chinese carved inkstone in the form of a pond with money frog…

Chinese Inkstone: Pond with Money Frog and Lilies

A Chinese carved inkstone in the form of a pond with money frog and lilies inscribed underneath. Width 24 cm.

A carved inkstone of circular form, the smooth palette carved…

Dragon and Bats Carved Inkstone

A carved inkstone of circular form, the smooth palette carved at one end with a dragon among clouds above the recessed ink-pool, the underside with two bats conjuring a shou medallion 14.5 cm diameter

A Chinese porcelain Inkstone and a brush pot, a shaped white…

Chinese Porcelain Inkstone and Brush Pot Set

A Chinese porcelain Inkstone and a brush pot, a shaped white glazed inkstone decorated with bats in low relief, and a cylindrical brush pot with an underglaze blue wave pattern throughout with a slip applied flame breathing dragon and fish in a white…

Meiji period carved ivory figure Calligrapher with boy holding…

Meiji Ivory Calligrapher with Ink Stone Boy

Meiji period carved ivory figure Calligrapher with boy holding ink stone signed to base, measures 13 cm height

Chinese blue and white porcelain inkstone, measures 20.5 cm x…

Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Inkstone - 20.5 x 13cm

Chinese blue and white porcelain inkstone, measures 20.5 cm x 13 cm

Canton enamel ink box and cover, decorated with a lady in a…

Canton Enamel Ink Box with Lady in Landscape

Canton enamel ink box and cover, decorated with a lady in a landscape, four-character Qianlong mark but probably later. Diameter 55 cm.

A Chinese dragon ink block with dragon decoration and…

Chinese Dragon Ink Block with Seal Mark

A Chinese dragon ink block with dragon decoration and unidentified seal mark. Height 15.7 cm. Width 5 cm. Depth 2 cm

Chinese covered ink stone, 25 cm at longest point.

Chinese Ink Stone: Covered and Elegant

Chinese covered ink stone, 25 cm at longest point.

A group of four Chinese porcelain scholar's desk pieces, late…

Chinese Porcelain Scholar's Desk Set, Late Qing Dynasty

A group of four Chinese porcelain scholar's desk pieces, late Qing Dynasty, late 19th century, comprising a scrolled wrist rest, an oval inkstone, a brush wash with a quatrefoil aperture, and a pierced rectangular brush rest, all with underglaze blue…

A fine Chinese Duan Inkstone, Qing Dynasty, possibly late 18th…

18th Century Chinese Duan Inkstone in Hardwood Box

A fine Chinese Duan Inkstone, Qing Dynasty, possibly late 18th century, the rectangular stone in typical deep aubergine tones with a circular well accompanied by engraved script, in a hardwood box, with script and seal of late Qianlong period. Length 18…

A Chinese Duan Inkstone and wash, the celadon and purple duan…

Celadon and Purple Duan Inkstone in Aubergine Form

A Chinese Duan Inkstone and wash, the celadon and purple duan stone in the form of an aubergine with a recessed well and naturalistically carved with tendrils and leaves and signed to the reverse with the maker's name and a motto. Height 2.5 cm. Length 20…

A Chinese carved 'dragon' duan inkstone, underside carved with…

Carved Dragon Duan Inkstone from China

A Chinese carved 'dragon' duan inkstone, underside carved with similar pattern, 15.6 cm x 26.5 cm x 4.5 cm

A Chinese carved 'legend of He Tu' inkstone, 8.8 cm wide, 13 cm…

Chinese Legend Inkstone Carving

A Chinese carved 'legend of He Tu' inkstone, 8.8 cm wide, 13 cm deep, 8.9 cm high

A Chinese square ink stone, 15.6 cm x 5.9 cm x 2.2 cm.…

Chinese Ink Stone from Hong Kong Collection

A Chinese square ink stone, 15.6 cm x 5.9 cm x 2.2 cm. Provenance: Private collection NSW, Purchased 20 years ago in Wyndham Street, Hong Kong

A carved Chinese 'dragon' ink stone attributed to Ziang, 13.5…

Chinese Dragon Ink Stone by Ziang

A carved Chinese 'dragon' ink stone attributed to Ziang, 13.5 cm wide. Provenance: Private collection NSW, Purchased 20 years ago in Wyndham Street, Hong Kong

A carved Chinese 'bat' inkstone, Late Qing dynasty to Republic…

Chinese Bat Inkstone with Hardwood Box

A carved Chinese 'bat' inkstone, Late Qing dynasty to Republic period, fitted with a hardwood box, 11.5 cm long (with box). Provenance: Private collection NSW, Purchased 20 years ago in Wyndham Street, Hong Kong

A carved Chinese 'pavilion' duan inkstone, Late Qing dynasty to…

Carved Chinese Duan Inkstone with Hardwood Box

A carved Chinese 'pavilion' duan inkstone, Late Qing dynasty to Republic period, fitted with a hardwood box, 17 cm long. Provenance: Private collection NSW, Purchased 20 years ago in Wyndham Street, Hong Kong

A large Chinese carved 'dragon' ink stone, Late Qing dynasty to…

Chinese Dragon Carved Ink Stone

A large Chinese carved 'dragon' ink stone, Late Qing dynasty to Republic period, 19 cm long. Provenance: Private collection NSW, Purchased 20 years ago in Wyndham Street, Hong Kong

Japanese gilded wood Inkblock box. Blossom & branch gilded…

Gilded Japanese Inkblock Box with Blossom Decoration

Japanese gilded wood Inkblock box. Blossom & branch gilded decoration. Length 10 cm

A Chinese inkstone and wash, in distinctive aubergine and…

Organic Chinese Inkstone with Bird and Lotus Design

A Chinese inkstone and wash, in distinctive aubergine and celadon toned duan stone, of organic form with a finely relief carved and pierced scene of birds in a lotus garden, the wash component utilising the deeper aubergine hues of the stone; with incised…

Chinese ink stone, with characters to lid & stone, 20.5 cm x 15.…

Chinese Ink Stone with Lid and Characters

Chinese ink stone, with characters to lid & stone, 20.5 cm x 15.5 cm x 5 cm high approx

A Chinese cased red ink block with inscribed poem and seal mark…

Chinese Red Ink Block with Poem and Seal Mark

A Chinese cased red ink block with inscribed poem and seal mark to rear. signed Cheng Jun Fang. Length 11 cm. Width 5.5 cm

A Chinese hardwood cased ink stone the shaped ink stone and…

Chinese Hardwood Ink Stone with Poetry

A Chinese hardwood cased ink stone the shaped ink stone and case with inscribed poetry. Width 170 length 26 cm

A Chinese blue and white porcelain inkstone, inscribed to the…

Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Inkstone, 1641

A Chinese blue and white porcelain inkstone, inscribed to the base and dated Chongzen 1641, 2.2 cm high, 9.8 cm diameter

A Chinese jade owl and a jade Inkstone, the simply carved owl…

Mottled Jade Owl and Inkstone Set

A Chinese jade owl and a jade Inkstone, the simply carved owl or fantastic beaked creature in richly mottled tones of cream and amber jade flecked with chocolate and green markings, and a circular inkstone with a shallow well and simple relief carving of…

A Chinese porcelain ink stone in the Qing manner, of compressed…

Qing-style Chinese Porcelain Ink Stone with Children at Play

A Chinese porcelain ink stone in the Qing manner, of compressed barrel form with a pierced top for brushes, and decorated in a predominantly iron red and green palette with a continuous scene of children at play in a landscape setting, between lingzhi…

A Chinese inkstone, 20th century, depicting a naturalistic…

Naturalistic Aubergine Inkstone with Carved Leaves and Bug

A Chinese inkstone, 20th century, depicting a naturalistic aubergine and utilising the natural purple and celadon hues of the duan stone, the pale green mixing well having a fine silken finish descending to a small purple reservoir, decorated to the end…

A Chinese decorative inkblock seal the square seal with dragon…

Dragon Inkblock Seal

A Chinese decorative inkblock seal the square seal with dragon decoration and seal to base. Height 2.5 cm. Width 8.2 cm

A Chinese hardwood cased Inkstone the rectangualr stone with…

Chinese Hardwood Inkstone with Inscribed Poem

A Chinese hardwood cased Inkstone the rectangualr stone with inscribed poem. Width 25 cm. Depth 15.5 cm

A set of Chinese cased inkblocks, the nine inkblocks each…

Contemplating Scholar Chinese Inkblocks

A set of Chinese cased inkblocks, the nine inkblocks each depicting a contemplating scholar.

A bamboo styled ink stone 16.5 cm

Bamboo Ink Stone: 16.5cm

A bamboo styled ink stone 16.5 cm

A carved Duan inkstone, of rectangular form, the smooth sunken…

Carved Dragon Inkstone with Inscription, 17.5cm

A carved Duan inkstone, of rectangular form, the smooth sunken palette deepening to the top surmounted by two confronted stylised dragons in low relief, one side with an inscription reading Zuoyuan zhencang (Treasured collection of Zuoyuan), 17.5 cm long

A Chinese Canton enamel lidded ink box. Possibly for snuff,…

Canton Enamel Ink Box with Qianlong Mark

A Chinese Canton enamel lidded ink box. Possibly for snuff, decorated in blue enamels with a lady in a forest. Four-character Qianlong mark but probably later. Diameter 5.5 cm

A Chinese Inkstone. The rounded rectangular duan stone of deep…

Aubergine Chinese Inkstone with Fish and Lotus Design

A Chinese Inkstone. The rounded rectangular duan stone of deep aubergine colouring, finely carved and pierced to the brush wash section with a fish leaping from the waves of a lotus water garden; with seal mark underside. Length 24.5 cm. Width 21.5 cm

A boxed Chinese Inkstone. Possibly late Qing Dynasty (late 19th…

Aubergine Inkstone in Zitan Box

A boxed Chinese Inkstone. Possibly late Qing Dynasty (late 19th century/early 20th century). The shaped duan inkstone in deep aubergine hues inscribed with characters and encased in a fitted and conforming zitan box also inscribed with characters and a…

A Chinese cased Inkstone the shaped hardwood lidded box with…

Chinese Carved Inkstone in Hardwood Box with Carp Decoration

A Chinese cased Inkstone the shaped hardwood lidded box with carved seals and calligraphy, the shaped stone with carp decoration. Length 26.5 cm. Width 14.5 cm

A Chinese large decorative inkstone featuring a horizontal…

Scholar Scene Inkstone with Calligraphy

A Chinese large decorative inkstone featuring a horizontal relief carved scholar scene with calligraphy. Length 33.6 cm. Diameter 23.5 cm

An unusual Chinese bell shaped ink block with all over…

Chinese Bell-Shaped Ink Block with Inscribed Decoration

An unusual Chinese bell shaped ink block with all over inscribed and relief decoration. Matching box. Height 20 cm. Width 12 cm. Depth 3.5 cm

A decorative Chinese inkstone, the well carved stone with…

Dragon Relief Chinese Inkstone

A decorative Chinese inkstone, the well carved stone with relief carved dragon motif, generous bowl and calligraphy. Length 29.7 cm. Width 20 cm

Chinese calligraphy inkstone, with dragon chasing pearl to lid.…

Dragon Inkstone with Chasing Pearl Lid

Chinese calligraphy inkstone, with dragon chasing pearl to lid. Length 20 cm

An old Chinese ink block, of oval fan shape, moulded in relief…

Chinese Ink Block with Qianlong Mark and Enamel Decoration

An old Chinese ink block, of oval fan shape, moulded in relief to either side, one face with a scene of pavilions in a landscape with remnants of gilding and coloured enamels; the opposite side with an oval cartouche decorated with a calligraphic panel…

Chinese ink stone, decorated with calligraphy, in lidded timber…

Calligraphy-Inspired Ink Stone in Decorative Box

Chinese ink stone, decorated with calligraphy, in lidded timber box 20 cm x 15 cm

A Chinese porcelain ink stone, late Qing Dynasty (late 19th…

Wucai porcelain ink stone with bird scenes

A Chinese porcelain ink stone, late Qing Dynasty (late 19th /early 20th century), of squat barrel form, with a shallow depression for mixing ink and moulded brush rests, decorated with patterned reserves in a wucai palette interspersed with bird scenes.…

A Chinese ink box with abacus, 26 cm wide, and a pair of floral…

Chinese Ink Box and Decorative Objects

A Chinese ink box with abacus, 26 cm wide, and a pair of floral decorated covered boxes 12 cm diameter and five composition figures approx. 6.5 cm high

A Chinese ink stone in case 23 cm long, a gilt lacquered wood…

Chinese Artifacts: Ink Stone, Gilt Figure, Carved Seal

A Chinese ink stone in case 23 cm long, a gilt lacquered wood figure of an official 18 cm high and a carved stone seal with inscription 7.5 cm high

Chinese inkstone in carved timber case, 20 x 15 cm

Carved Chinese Inkstone in Timber Case

Chinese inkstone in carved timber case, 20 x 15 cm

A Chinese tall decorative dragon ink stick. Height 35.5 cm.…

Chinese Dragon Decorative Ink Stick

A Chinese tall decorative dragon ink stick. Height 35.5 cm. Width 9.5 cm. Depth 5 cm

A Chinese decorative cased Inkstone the hardwood case and stone…

Chinese Poetry Inkstone in Decorative Case

A Chinese decorative cased Inkstone the hardwood case and stone inscribed with Chinese poetry. Height 50 cm. Width 20 cm. Depth 20.5 cm

Chinese zitan calligraphy box. Cover carved with caligraphy and…

Zitan Calligraphy Box with Carved Cover and Inkstone

Chinese zitan calligraphy box. Cover carved with caligraphy and seal mark. Carved inkstone fitted to interior. Weight 20 cm diameter 15 cm height 5 cm

A finely carved Chinese dragon and cloud inkstone, Qing Dynasty.…

Qing Dynasty Dragon and Cloud Inkstone

A finely carved Chinese dragon and cloud inkstone, Qing Dynasty. 33 cm x 28 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Melbourne

A Chinese carved inkstone, 17th/18th century, depicting a tiger…

Chinese Tiger Inkstone, 17th/18th Century

A Chinese carved inkstone, 17th/18th century, depicting a tiger amongst pine trees. 22 cm long and 19.5 cm wide. Provenance: Private Collection, Melbourne

A set of four Chinese red ink sticks, each stick of rectangular…

Chinese Ink Sticks Set with Gold Leaf and Rosewood Box

A set of four Chinese red ink sticks, each stick of rectangular shape, moulded with various dragons, clouds, insects and calligraphy, each enhanced with a gold leaf and held within a fitted heavy rosewood box of oblong shape. The box 19 cm x 7 cm x 4.5 cm

Chinese brass ink stone box Approx 19 by 19 cm

Chinese Brass Ink Stone Box - 19x19cm

Chinese brass ink stone box Approx 19 by 19 cm

Chinese open ink stone with carved figures approx 25 by 17 cm

Carved Chinese Ink Stone with Figures

Chinese open ink stone with carved figures approx 25 by 17 cm

Chinese ink stone in carved timber case 21.5 cm x 16 cm, 4.5 cm…

Carved Timber Case with Chinese Ink Stone

Chinese ink stone in carved timber case 21.5 cm x 16 cm, 4.5 cm high

An eggplant shaped ink stone in hardwood timber box, with vine…

Eggplant Ink Stone in Decorative Timber Box

An eggplant shaped ink stone in hardwood timber box, with vine leaf decoration to stone and box. Length 20 cm

A fine Chinese inkstone, the free form duan stone in beautiful…

Duan Stone Inkstone with Water Garden Motif

A fine Chinese inkstone, the free form duan stone in beautiful tonings of aubergine and celadon, the mixing plain in the form of a lotus leaf surrounded by other finely carved and pierced water garden flora and a turtle, and to the reverse, an underwater…

Two various Chinese Inkblock holders. One black hardstone,…

Chinese Inkblock Holders with Dragon and Bamboo Decoration

Two various Chinese Inkblock holders. One black hardstone, bamboo decoration; and other with dragon decoration. Length 22 cm. (dragon)

Chinese ink stone carved with trees and turtle and characters…

Tree and Turtle Chinese Ink Stone in Fitted Case

Chinese ink stone carved with trees and turtle and characters to back, in fitted timber case with carved character

Chinese lidded ink block holder. Frog and lotus blossom…

Chinese Frog and Lotus Ink Holder

Chinese lidded ink block holder. Frog and lotus blossom decoration Character marks to base. Length 22 cm

Chinese ink stone, with engraved calligraphy on both sides, in…

Engraved Chinese Ink Stone in Carved Timber Case

Chinese ink stone, with engraved calligraphy on both sides, in carved timber case 20.5 cm wide

Two Chinese ink stones, probably duan, both carved with dragons,…

Dragon Carved Duan Ink Stones with Storage Case

Two Chinese ink stones, probably duan, both carved with dragons, one with wooden storage case, 26 cm length

A Chinese ink stone housed within a wooden storage box 20 cm…

Chinese Ink Stone in Wooden Box

A Chinese ink stone housed within a wooden storage box 20 cm length

A Chinese Duan inkstone, decorated with two ducks, the side…

Chinese Duck Decorated Duan Inkstone with Calligraphy

A Chinese Duan inkstone, decorated with two ducks, the side with calligraphy and encased in custom fit case and cover. Length 15 cm

A terracotta pottery ink stone, decorated on the top with twin…

Terracotta Ink Stone with Fish and Calligraphy

A terracotta pottery ink stone, decorated on the top with twin fish, the underside with a panel of calligraphy, chip to rim. Diameter 17 cm

A Yuan style inkstone, decorated with a crackle glaze around…

Yuan Style Crackle Glazed Inkstone with Fitted Box

A Yuan style inkstone, decorated with a crackle glaze around rim. Later fitted box. Diameter 13 cm

Circular celadon lidded ink box, with dragon and wave relief…

Dragon Wave Ink Box

Circular celadon lidded ink box, with dragon and wave relief decoration. Diameter 8 cm

Chinese porcelain ink box, decorated on the outside with blue…

Blue Crosses Chinese Porcelain Ink Box

Chinese porcelain ink box, decorated on the outside with blue enamel crosses, the underside with a four character Qianlong mark within a turquoise ground, frits to the rim and a crack to the base. Width 6 cm

Good Chinese ink stone in inlaid timber case, 20.5 x 15.5 cm

Chinese Ink Stone in Timber Case

Good Chinese ink stone in inlaid timber case, 20.5 x 15.5 cm

Good Chinese ink stone in carved timber case, 17.5 x 12.5 cm

Chinese Ink Stone in Carved Case (10 words)

Good Chinese ink stone in carved timber case, 17.5 x 12.5 cm

A Chinese ink stone with character marks in fitted timber box…

Chinese Ink Stone in Fitted Timber Box with Marks

A Chinese ink stone with character marks in fitted timber box with marks

Hardwood cased ink stone with mother of pearl inlay to case and…

Mother of Pearl Inlaid Hardwood Ink Stone

Hardwood cased ink stone with mother of pearl inlay to case and calligraphy to stone. Length 27 cm

A beautifully carved Chinese jade seal ink box of oblong shape…

Chinese Jade Seal Ink Box with Archaic Border Design

A beautifully carved Chinese jade seal ink box of oblong shape with chamfered corners, the lid with an archaic border design, within which are 14 (untranslated) Chinese characters. The jade is a very pale celadon, almost mutton fat in colour, probably…

A Chinese cased Inkstone with character and gilt seal chop…

Chinese Inkstone with Gilt Seal and Silk Case

A Chinese cased Inkstone with character and gilt seal chop identification. Old silk case. Length 16.5 cm

A Chinese red inkstone, modelled as a guqin depicted partially…

Chinese Red Inkstone with Guqin Motif and Gilt Accents

A Chinese red inkstone, modelled as a guqin depicted partially wrapped in a fabric sleeve patterned with flowering branches highlighted with gilt, engraved with characters to either side, in original cloth covered box. Length 13.5 cm

Chinese blackwood Inkstone box. Bamboo shoot form. 16 x 5 cm

Chinese Blackwood Bamboo Inkstone Box

Chinese blackwood Inkstone box. Bamboo shoot form. 16 x 5 cm