In the Elegant Pursuit of Antiquity: Utensils and Objects of the Scholar's Study

The studio was the center of life for the traditional scholar, and such utensils on the long table there included brush, inkstone, paper, and ink in addition to water pourer, brush stand, paperweight, and others. Not only used for writing, these utensils that accompanied scholars throughout the day naturally became objects that reflected their aesthetic taste and appreciation. Inkstones, for example, are generally divided into those made of ceramic and stone, the material chosen to grind ink without damaging the brush hairs. Song dynasty inkstones are often made from refined clay or Duan stone, being mostly in the "Chaoshou" rectangular form. Starting from the Ming dynasty, the shapes of inkstones became much more varied, with great attention placed on the production of covers. The user’s name and inscriptions by collectors were also engraved on the sides of inkstones to express a yearning for the past. A fondness for antiquity among scholars led them to increasingly select bronzes of the Shang, Zhou, and Han dynasties as inkstone drippers, water pourers, and paperweights. Scholars also chose white Ding porcelain, crackled Ge ware, and beautiful jade and stone materials to serve as brush washers, pots, and stands. Objects of many different materials consequently found their way onto the scholar’s table, combining archaic elegance with lyricism emanating from the brush. The studio, however, would not have been complete without other furnishings, such as a bronze or porcelain incense burner and flower vase to create a fragrant atmosphere. And when the mood struck, the scholar would often open an elaborately conceived chest to leisurely appreciate a collection of precious curios from different periods and places, thereby complementing the setting and atmosphere of the studio.