Chinese Antique Ink Stick / Cake Double Dragons

CHINESE ANTIQUE INK STICK / CAKE
DOUBLE DRAGON

A COLLECTORS TREASURE FOR THE SCHOLARS STUDIO
QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

An oval shape tablet.
The front displaying gilded double dragons in juxtaposition. The centre with three characters.
The reverse with gilded stylised clouds. The centre with six characters stating it is of the Qianlong period.

In Chinese, "double dragon" generally refers to two dragons, often depicted together in art, symbolism, and mythology. The dragons are usually associated with positive attributes like power, authority, good luck, and prosperity. They can also represent the dualistic forces of Yin and Yang, or symbolize a harmonious balance. 

Condition : Ink Stick /cake, no breaks , very good for age. Gilding age faded. Original Box : Age Faded & Stained.

Refer the large images for details & condition.
Please Note... depending on your computer monitor / phone / ipad etc. colour may vary to actual.

Outer Box
Length about 18 cm
Width about 8 cm
Depth about 2.8 cm

Ink Cake :
Length about 15.5 cm
Width about 5.2 cm
Height about 1.6 cm

A$350

Over the course of the early centuries there developed in China a special tradition regarding the paraphernalia of the study, which includes all the cherished objects literati and artists always have near at hand.
Paper and writing brush, ink cake and ink slab— referred to as Wen-Fang-Szu-Pao (The Four Treasures of the Study)— conform to certain conventional patterns, [although] tradition leaves ample scope for individual artistic expression.

The tradition was kept alive by the desire of scholars and artists to surround themselves with beautiful things; there can be no doubt, however, that it originated from magic considerations.
Almost every one of the objects suggests by its shape or material that it is a receptacle of ‘vital essence” (R.H. van Gulik).

In practice, the ink cake is ground with water on the ink slab to produce a liquid. This gives artists and scholars total control over the density, texture, and quality of their ink and, by extension, the textural and tonal variations of ink in their paintings and calligraphy.

An ancient treatise on Chinese ink, the Mo Ch’ing (Ink Classic), written in the 12th century by Chao Kuan-chih, lists as the chief ingredients of high quality ink simply soot and glue.