vintage chinese imperial ink stick/cake - "the nine dragons in clouds" ming dynasty

Hello,

VINTAGE Chinese Ink Stick/Cake - "The Nine Dragons In Clouds"
Believed to be from the "Wanli" period Ming Dynasty.I have the following item, which I bought back in the early 1980's from a house clearance in the New Forest, and the owners told me that it had been in their family since the 1920's when an uncle who worked as a travelling salesman in Asia brought it back from Hong Kong when he returned to the UK. I liked the unusual material that this was made from, along with the gold gilding writing on the front, and the detailed dragons carving on the back. Most recently, I started to research this item on the internet and this is the information I have to hand:1. The front of the ink stick/cake has written script in gold gilt probably of Old/Traditional Chinese at the time this was made, as it appears to be a complex level of literature mostly written by scholars. It is likely that the script is referring to the nine dragons on the reverse.2. The reverse of the ink stick has a picture of The Nine Dragons swirling in the clouds, and was once embellished in red and also gold gilt which traces can be seen in the photos. The detail is wonderful, and is a work of art in itself and whoever made this was a true craftsman.3. There is a five character believed to be Wanli marks to the bottom left, which can be seen in the photo.4. There is a small chip at the top left corner on the reverse side, and apart from that the ink stick is intact as seen in the photos.6. Measurements: L 18 x W 1.5 x H 6 cms approx
This is a great piece of Chinese history, to add to anyones collection in respect of the heritage that they are proud of.
Where will you find another like this in excellent condition?Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you.This item will be packed/shipped to anywhere in the UK at seller cost and will be sent via tracked/signed for peace of mind for all parties.For international buyers: ANY import duties/taxes must be paid by the Buyer under the country of importation. The packing/shipping costs will be on request depending on which country it will be shipped to, and are for the buyer to PAY.

Antiques.co.uk Ref: UKN4M73X8

Materials:

Ink stick/cake made of soot and animal glue, plus other plants or minerals.

Width (cm):

18

Height (cm):

6

Depth (cm):

1.5

Please note that this price may NOT include delivery charges which the seller may charge extra for.

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Arvin Kumar

I have been collecting antiques/collectables since 1990 and have specialised in glass/ceramics and unusual items such as fountain pens and paintings. During my time searching for items, I have come across Chinese ceramics/art which I have kept and enjoyed, and have now decided to part with some of my collection, which I have listed, along with doing the research as to where it originally came from using internet data and photographs of similar items in museums/private collections.

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