Huge porcelain ink stone decorated with a stylized Phoenix and a Dragon in dark blue color. The ink stone is almost 30 cm in diameter and shows signs of extensive use. On the bottom is a 'Da Ming Nian Zhi' mark (Made in the great Ming dynasty). We do not know if this object indeed dates from the Ming period (1368 - 1644) as during the Qing period (1644 - 1912) many porcelains were marked 'Ming'. Interesting though is that in one of our books we found a photo of a porcelain ewer decorated with the same dark blue color and bearing exactly the same mark (see last photo). So perhaps this huge object indeed dates from the Ming period. There is an opening on the top which connects to a hollow space inside the ink stone. Chinese ink comes in solidified form as 'ink sticks' or 'ink cakes'. First water is sprinkled on the rough surface of the ink stone. Then one end of the ink stick is placed on this grinding surface and then gradually ground to produce the ink. More water is added during the grinding process to increase the amount of ink produced, the excess flowing down into the reservoir of the ink stone where it will not evaporate as quickly as on the flat grinding surface. An ink stone, together with an ink brush, ink stick and paper, are the four writing implements traditionally known as the 'Four Treasures of the Study'. Ink sticks are made mainly of soot and animal glue. The dragon and the Phoenix are traditional animals that symbolize auspiciousness. This interesting object previously belonged to friends of ours in Holland and entered the Lowlands-collection in 2006. Diameter 29.5 cm. Height 8 cm.