Description
comprising forty-eight inksticks contained in two fine gilt-lacquered 'dragon' boxes, illustrating the process of cotton cultivation and manufacturing in imperial China, each inkstick delicately carved on the one side with a particular stage of the process, accompanied by a gilt caption, and inscribed and gilt with a poem by Emperor Qianlong on the reverse, one of the inksticks inscribed with a 'table of contents', another inscribed with an introductory essay and signed 'carved by Wang Weigao, supervisor of ink-making in the Imperial Library' (Yu shu chu jiao xi zao mo jian sheng, chen Wang Weigao juan) (2)
Dimensions
each inkstick 6.9x2.5cm, box 36x25cm
Footnote
Note:
For a partial set with identical subject matter, also made by Wang Weigao, see Xilin Yinshe's sale on 18th-20th December 2009, lot 1798.
Provenance:
Private Scottish collection, acquired in Edinburgh in the 1980s.