Antique Asian Lacquer Calligraphy Writing Box Signed with Carved Ink Stones

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Antique Asian Lacquer Calligraphy Writing Box Signed with Carved Ink Stones

About the Item

An antique Asian, lacquered and signed wood writing or calligraphy box with carved and signed ink stones and brushes. This set has been used. For a bit about the history of lacquer I offer an excerpt from an article on the visual arts website, "In Chinese art, the word lacquerware refers to a variety of decorative techniques used to coat wood, bamboo, metal or other surfaces, with a hard, resinous finish. Originating during the era of Neolithic art, lacquering was originally intended as a form of waterproof protection for wood and bamboo, but the process rapidly became a greatly valued method of decorating fine objects. Now a highly skilled decorative art, it often involves the application of many layers of lacquer to the core material. The resin used in Chinese lacquerwork is obtained from a species of tree (indigenous to China) known as Toxicodendron vernicifluum, commonly called the Lacquer Tree." And for a brief introduction to calligraphy, I offer an article from the Asia society website, "Calligraphy, literally "beautiful writing," has been appreciated as an art form in many different cultures throughout the world, but the stature of calligraphy in Chinese culture is unmatched. In China, from a very early period, calligraphy was considered not just a form of decorative art; rather, it was viewed as the supreme visual art form, was more valued than painting and sculpture, and ranked alongside poetry as a means of self-expression and cultivation. How one wrote, in fact, was as important as what one wrote...Although archaeological evidence confirms that brushes were known in China at a much earlier date, it was during the Han period that their use became widespread. A typical brush consists of a bundle of animal hairs (black rabbit hair, white goat hair, and yellow weasel hair were all very popular) pushed inside a tube of bamboo or wood (though jade, porcelain, and other materials were also occasionally used). The hairs are not all of the same length; rather, an inner core has shorter hairs around it, which in turn are covered by an outer layer that tapers to a point... The ink employed in calligraphy is usually made from lampblack, a sooty residue created by burning pine resin or oil underneath a hood. After being collected, the lampblack is mixed with glue and then pressed into molds. The resulting hardened cakes or sticks can then be ground against a stone and mixed with water, a process that allows the calligrapher to control the thickness of the ink and density of the pigment... Together with the inkstone—a carved stone slab with a reservoir for grinding ink and mixing it with water—brush, ink, and paper are known in China as the Four Treasures of the Study (wenfang sibao), indicating the high esteem in which the materials of calligraphy are held."

Dimensions:
Height: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 6.75 in (17.15 cm)
Style:
Chinoiserie (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Lacquer,Stone,Wood,Hand-Carved,Lacquered
Place of Origin:
Asia
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1920s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. In good antique condition with age appropriate wear. Lacquer box shows signs of wear. The carved ink stones and brushes all show signs of use. I am unsure of the exact date, but I believe this dates to circa 1920’s.
Seller Location:
Atlanta, GA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU7240230674232