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Source Description
In China, access to political power was granted to those who passed the civil service examinations, a system that offered official service only at a high level of education. Chinese literati-officials, whose daily routine involved administrative work in an office, enjoyed precious objects on their writing desks that offered distraction and demonstrated good taste. By the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, these utensils of the literati studio also became collectibles and were treasured as artworks.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
121901
label
Ink Cake with Architectural Design
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
121901
contentType
object
title
Ink Cake with Architectural Design
description
In China, access to political power was granted to those who passed the civil service examinations, a system that offered official service only at a high level of education. Chinese literati-officials, whose daily routine involved administrative work in an office, enjoyed precious objects on their writing desks that offered distraction and demonstrated good taste. By the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, these utensils of the literati studio also became collectibles and were treasured as artworks.
date
1736–95
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q80018169
genreSpecific
Miscellaneous
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 2.4 x 13.4 cm (15/16 x 5 1/4 in.)
cul
China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong inscription, mark, and reign (1736-95)
accession
1942.212
Source extras
tec
molded ink
tombstone
Ink Cake with Architectural Design, 1736–95. China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong inscription, mark, and reign (1736-95). Molded ink; overall: 2.4 x 13.4 cm (15/16 x 5 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Henry W. Kent, 1942.212
collection
China - Qing Dynasty
inscriptions
inscription
大清乾隆年制
inscription_translation
Da Qing Qianlong nian zhi (Made in the Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign)
inscription_remark
Inscription on the side of the ink cake
inscription
待月樓珍藏
inscription_translation
Dai Yue Lou zhen cang (Preciously stored in the Waiting for the Moon Pavilion)
inscription_remark
Inscription on the side of the ink cake
inscription
御墨.
光分太乙.
吟詠春風里.
inscription_translation
Yu mo (Imperial ink).
Guang fen tai yi (Brilliance Divides the Universe).
Yin yung chun feng li (Humming and Singing in the Spring Wind).
inscription_remark
Incised gilt characters and seal on the back of the ink cake
didYouKnow
To make liquid ink, an ink cake is ground against an inkstone with a small quantity of water.
citations
citation
Hollis, Howard. “A Gift of Chinese Inks.” <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>, vol. 33, no. 1, 1946, pp. 3–11.
creditline
Gift of Henry W. Kent
updatedAt
2026-05-29 06:16:46.993000
sourceId
121901
dept
Chinese Art
coll
China - Qing Dynasty
med
molded ink
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
6b6c3aa805417408