清十八 / 十九世紀 端硯石刻「梅花圖」題詩長方洗 《巢林居士畫》《巢林畫》《竹垞》款 「近人」「近」「人」「竹」「垞」印 「余愛此石研細潤澤」「臨蘭亭序一節」字

of rectangular form with indented corners, supported on four 'L'-shaped feet, the straight walls rising to a mouth with a slightly taller outer lip, each of the long sides incised with blossoming prunus branches, accompanied by poetic inscriptions in running script to the right, one in running script, followed by the signature Chaolin jushi hua (‘painted by Chaolin jushi’) with one seal Jinren, the other in regular script, followed by the signature Chaolin hua (‘painted by Chaolin’) with two seals reading Jin and ren, the two narrower panels also with inscriptions, one in clerical script followed, in running script, reading yu ai ci shi yanxi runze (‘I love this inkstone for its delicacy and glossiness’) and the signature Zhucha and two seals Zhu and Cha, opposite an excerpt from the Lanting Preface in regular script, followed by the text lin Lanting Xu yi jie (‘copying a section of the Lanting Preface’), and ending with the same two seals, the stone of a purplish-brown tone

Apart from very minor nicks along the bottom edges, the overall condition is very good. The actual colour is consistent with the catalogue illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The inscription by Zhucha suggests that the present piece was used as an inkstone rather than a water vessel despite its unusual shape. The prunus design and the inscriptions are taken from the works of the Yangzhou artist and noted carver, Wang Shishen (1686-1762), whose zi was Jiren and hao Chaolin, Xidong waishi and others. Wang was one of the ‘Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou’, and was famous for his paintings of this much favoured subject matter. Zhucha is the sobriquet of Zhu Yizun (1629-1709), a literary critic of great influence, especially in the realm of the lyric (ci). In poetry, Zhu and Wang were amongst the most talented of their time, with people pairing them up with the saying, ‘Zhu in the south and Wang in the north’, as Zhu was from Jiaxing, north of Yangzhou.

The carver of this piece has skilfully balanced two sides with Wang’s paintings and two sides with Zhu’s calligraphy. The six-line poem by Zhu in clerical script, in which he praises the stone, may be translated as follows:

          It is the bone of blue-green waters;
          it is the root of clouds.
          Banana leaves are its colour;
          Grey clouds are its pupils.
          It resembles pearls in its lustre;
          it resembles jade in its warmth.”

The inscription accompanying the prunus blossom and signed ‘Chaolin jushi’ may be translated as follows:

          After three months of winter,
          the scorching breath has completely disappeared,
          and what remains are the plum blossoms and their gaunt branches.

The inscription with the plum blossoms on the other side is the last two lines of a poem by Wang Shishen (1686-1759) which may be translated as follows:

          Taking advantage of idle daylight on the window of a monk,
          the plum blossoms on their branches possess the east wind.