320 - A SILVER INK CASE WITH INSCRIPTION CHINA 19TH CENTURY

A SILVER INK CASE WITH INSCRIPTION CHINA 19TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 3 cm Wide 6 cm Depth 6 cm Weight: 167 grams A nineteenth-century Chinese silver ink case of square form with softly rounded corners and a closely fitted lid. The upper surface is engraved with several vertical lines of Chinese calligraphy, their controlled strokes arranged within the simple geometric outline of the box. The restrained exterior allows the inscription to dominate the composition, while the patinated and lightly worn silver gives the object a pleasing sense of age and handling. Silver writing accessories held an important place among Chinese scholars' objects, where the written word, metal craftsmanship and functional elegance often met. The compact shape and finely inscribed surface make this case an attractive addition to a collection of Chinese calligraphy and scholar's desk objects.