Songhua Warm Inkstone
The set of Songhua warm inkstone consists of an inkstone made of Songhua stone and a cloisonné box used to support the inkstone. The Songhua River Basin in northeast China was the ancestral homeland of Qing-dynasty rulers, and inkstones made of stone from the river were exclusive to the Qing royal court.
Carved with dragon patterns, this inkstone features delicate texture and elegant blue-green color. On one side of the inkstone, an engraved lotus leaf-shaped pool was used to hold water or ink. Water was injected into a hole on the edge of the pool to prevent the inkstone from cracking when heated. The surface of the inkstone has become depressed due to long-time usage.
The inkstone is equipped with a cloisonné box with dragon patterns, which features neat filigree lines. The blue cloisonné enamel part was decorated with dragon and peach patterns, making it a masterpiece of Chinese cloisonné . The box was decorated with hollowed-out copper gilt motifs. To prevent the ink from freezing in cold winter, charcoal was burned inside the box, and the hollowed-out parts allowed air to circulate, sustaining the burning of the charcoal. The bottom of the box was engraved with the mark "Made in the Kangxi reign".
The inkstone and the box are inseparable and boast ingenious design and superb craftsmanship, testifying to the wit of ancient Chinese craftsmen.
松花石暖砚
松花石暖砚由砚与承托砚的掐丝珐琅盒共同组成。中国东北的松花江是清代祖先发祥地，由此地江石制成的砚，专供清代皇室御用。石砚四周雕琢螭纹，砚体呈青绿色，质地细腻，色泽淡雅。砚上一侧雕荷叶形墨池，用于盛放清水或墨汁，池边有水孔，向内注水可防止砚石加热时开裂。砚堂表面凹陷，应为长久研墨所致。
此砚配有掐丝珐琅螭龙纹砚盒，掐丝线条工整，蓝色掐丝珐琅部位，饰以螭龙、寿桃，堪称佳品。盒周装饰铜鎏金錾花镂空螭纹。冬日寒冷，为防止研墨结冰，盒内可燃炭，空气通过盒周镂空处流通，保证炭火不熄。盒底部镌刻“康熙年制”。
暖砚与砚盒，不即不离，浑然一体，其设计理念之奇巧、制造工艺之精良，令人叹为观止。中国古代工匠之竭尽巧思，于此可见一斑。
