19th Century Chinese Dragon Carved Inkstone

Scholarly pursuits such as painting, calligraphy, and poetry were a highly respected and revered subculture in ancient China, and demanded their own set of tools that were not only functional, but also beautiful. One of the "Four Treasures of the Study," inkstones such as this were used to mix dry ink with water for use in calligraphy painting. This 19th century inkstone is guarded by a mythical fu dog, or shizi, depicted with open jaws and a long mane of flowing curls. Resembling a Buddhist fly whisk...

Carefully carved from a cypress tree burl, this late 19th-century burlwood vessel is known as a brush pot, a container traditionally used to hold select calligraphy brushes in a scho...

Set alongside the four treasures of the study - the calligraphy brush, ink, paper, and inkstone - a brush pot was a fixture of every traditional scholars' desk. This small wooden bru...

A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynast...

A refined and elegant pair of huanghuali nesting trays. An exotic hardwood, huanghuali (which translate to "yellow flowering pear wood"), has long been prized in China. These trays would originally have graced the desk of a scholar and aided him in his scholarly pursuits. The larger tray features a wonderful golden hue, and a prized "ghost face...

A simple and elegant Chinese hardwood and brass mounted scholar tray, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China. The scholar tray crafted of a solid and heavy densely figured hardwood ...

Beautiful Chinese calligraphy brush with handmade bone handle. A beautiful brush that is perfect for making art or as an design element. Bone ferrule and h...

Chinese dragon boat double inkwell. Original glass inserts. Circa 1870's bronze. The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that occurs on the fifth day of the fift...