Refined Clay Archaistic 
Shih-ch'u Inkstone 
Ch'ien-lung period  (A.D. 
1736-1795)
Ch'ing Dynasty
           Tradition has it
that refined clay inkstones
were  made  at  Chiangchow 
(modern    Hsin-chiang, 
Shansi) in the T'ang and 
Sung periods using mud and
sand from the Fen River. The
mud was sifted, packed into
a silk bag, and lowered into
the  river to   rinse for  a 
year.  Finally the refined
clay deposit in the bag was
fired in a kiln to make the
inkstone. This inkstone was
made for the Ch'ien-lung 
Emperor in archaistic style.