Cleveland Museum of Art

Ink Cake with Architectural Design

Date: 1736–95
Medium: molded ink
Culture: China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong inscription, mark, and reign (1736-95)
Department: Chinese Art
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art

In China, access to political power was granted to those who passed the civil service examinations, a system that offered official service only at a high level of education. Chinese literati-officials, whose daily routine involved administrative work in an office, enjoyed precious objects on their writing desks that offered distraction and demonstrated good taste. By the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, these utensils of the literati studio also became collectibles and were treasured as artworks. To make liquid ink, an ink cake is ground against an inkstone with a small quantity of water.

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