Collector: Inkstones’ true value yet to be recognized
Print Edition
Once an indispensable object for educated Chinese, the inkstone today is virtually unknown except as antiques or expert calligraphers.
Inkstones are mortars for grinding and containing ink that’s made from water and traditional inksticks made from condensed and solidified ink. The stones evolved from a rubbing tool used for dyes dating from 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. The earliest excavated inkstone was from the 3rd century from a tomb in Hubei Province, and they became more common during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).
The inkstone joined the writing brush, Chinese art paper and the inkstick as the famous “Four Treasures of the Study” in Chinese calligraphy. However, they fell out of use as bottles of ink and then modern writing instruments replaced traditional utensils for most uses.
However, a Hangzhou collector, Lin Haoran, considers the inkstone irreplaceable since it epitomizes the centuries-old calligraphic culture and conveys the wisdom of Chinese literati.
While Lin, 42, makes a living dealing in paintings, his passion is inkstones. He has sunk a few million yuan into collecting and restoring inkstones. His studio, Fan Yun Ya Ji, is located in a cultural and creative industry park in western Hangzhou. Visitors are likely to be stunned by the variety of shapes, sizes and kind of inkstones lined up in orderly rows.
“Today, except for those who favor calligraphy, people know little about inkstones, let alone their background and history,” said Lin.
An ideal inkstone, Lin said, should have an elegant shape and pattern, craftsmanship should be top-notch, and materials must be superb.
In China, the best stones suitable for inkstones are the volcanic Duan stone from Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province; the slate She stone from Shexian, Anhui Province; crystalline Taohe stone from Taohe River, Gansu Province; and Chengni “stone,” actually a ceramic, from Luoyang, Henan Province. These are known as the “Four Famous Inkstones” of Chinese history.
Stimulated by the growth of culture and society, inkstones became more widespread and valued during the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. The literati increasingly appreciated and collected inkstones as art.
After the Song Dynasty, cavities were carved in inkstones to hold water. Sometimes seals and characters were engraved in the bodies of inkstones.
“In olden times, the price of a fine inkstone could be as much as a house. It was an indispensable part of the life of Chinese literati,” said Lin.
Ancient poems also contain words of praise for fine inkstones. Nevertheless, Lin said appreciation of inkstones sometimes is greater outside of China’s mainland.
“Honestly speaking ... Taiwan and Japan do much better than us. Inkstones are more popular in these areas,” Lin said.
Lin has been dedicated to collecting and restoring inkstones since 2007. He goes to auctions around China, Japan, London and New York bidding for inkstones, and he works with a craftsman from Fujian Province who helps him repair broken inkstones.
Old bricks used for repairs
Old bricks, especially those produced in the Song and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, are best for patching a broken inkstone. Instead of trying to cover up the breakage, they hone and polish a piece of old brick to the exact shape and size of a missing piece.
“Only old bricks are good for restoration, because the raw materials and manufacturing techniques of the present-day bricks do not match well with old inkstones. I purchase those old bricks around China,” Lin explained.
Lin and the Fujian workman use a special oil paint named daqi, a mixture of glutinous rice and natural lacquer from trees in Fujian Province, to attach the patch and restore the appearance of the inkstone.
Lin said he taught himself how to restore inkstones. “I started from scratch, accumulating expertise from practicing,” Lin said, smiling.
Lin said he doesn’t collect and repair inkstones for sale, but he does it to be able to display them. This year, his studio is working with organizations to hold exhibitions and publish a book about his inkstones.
Among his collections, the most valued one is worth estimated several hundreds of thousand yuan, while the oldest one dates back to the Tang Dynasty.
“Inkstones are still undervalued today. I believe someday in the future, people will recognize their real value,” Lin said.
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