Gourd-shaped Inkstone 
made of Sunghua Stone 
Yung-cheng period (A.D.
1723-1735)
Ch'ing Dynasty
Length:          18.4cm
Width:           13.2cm
Thickness:        1.4cm
     This  gourd-shaped 
inkstone is made of green 
Sung-hua stone.  Its ink-
grinding surface is slightly 
concave.  The water reservoir 
is located towards the top 
of the gourd, decorated with 
a bat design above the pool.  
Inscribed on the slightly  
depressed underside surface 
of the inkstone are characters 
by the Yung-cheng emperor, 
and a Yung-cheng reign-seal.