Ink Tablet with Peach Tree
Unknown Artist
late 19th–early 20th century
Medium
Black ink
Dimensions
H. 4 in. (10.2 cm); W. 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm)
Classification
Ink
Culture & Period
China · late Qing dynasty (1644–1911) or early Republic period (1912–49)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1930
Accession Number
30.76.197
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Asian Art collection of the Metropolitan Museum of, this petite *Ink Tablet with Peach Tree* (late 19th–early 20th century) exemplifies the refined artistry of late Qing dynasty (1644–1911) or early Republic period (2–49) China. Crafted from black ink and measuring just 4 by 3⅞ inches, this ink cake—used for calligraphy and painting—was both a practical tool and a collector's treasure. Its delicate depiction of a peach tree, rendered through intricate carving or molding, captures the branch's graceful curves and blooming fruit in exquisite detail. In Chinese culture, peaches ho...