Black lacquer box with set of 12 ink cakes (detail)

Chinese scholars considered paper, brush, ink, and ink stone as the Four Treasures of a scholar's study. The Four Treasures could also be found in the Manchu ruler's studio.

Illustrated here are two pieces of ink cakes. Chinese ink is a carbon black pigment produced from soot which is bound with animal glue and moulded in cake from. It is used for painting and writing.

The Chinese aesthetic idea of "ink-play" is to use ink in such a free manner that variations in ink tones will bring "the five colours".

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Online ID:	000-190-001-307-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland A.1948.476
Date:	18th century probably 18th century
Material:	Blue lacquered wood
Dimensions:	418 mm L x 310 mm W x 48 mm deep
What:	Box
Subject:	Lacquer
Who:	Patrick Dudgeon (Collection)
Where:	China
Event:
Description:	Box of blue lacquered wood: China, Ch'ing dynasty, probably 18th century
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