Bidspirit auction | Formerly from the Hongxuanguan Collection:

Formerly from the Hongxuanguan Collection: Song Dynasty Duanxi Inkstone with ‘Banana Leaf’ Pattern - Exquisitely crafted from the celebrated ”Song Pit” of Duanxi, this inkstone serves as a premier record of the organic aesthetic favored by scholars since the Song Dynasty. The stone possesses a dense, charcoal-black texture with a subtle luster. It is masterfully sculpted in the form of a sprawling plantain leaf, harmonizing natural vitality with functional elegance. The ink pool follows the leaf’s natural contour, leading to a smooth, mirror-like grinding surface. The intricate veins are incised along the sides and reverse, accompanied by scholarly inscriptions that document its long history of connoisseurship. Notably, this piece originates from the prestigious Hongxuan Guan Collection in Japan and is documented in scholarly records. Archival notes by the expert Shiqiao praise the stone’s quality as ”reminiscent of green jade and moist clouds,” linking its aesthetic to the tradition of masters like Zhang Xiong. Protected by a double wooden box (Double Box-fu) with detailed calligraphic inscriptions (Box-shu) on the inner lid, this 32.5 cm masterpiece remains a significant artifact of the literati lifestyle.