QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)
HEIGHT (WITH STAND): 24CM
The outline of the upright rock is accented with jagged edges and the surface heightened with smooth russet-coloured patches on the front and back. The threecolumn inscription on the russet patch on the front can be translated as:
| 光緒辛丑 | Xinchou year of the Guangxu Era [1901] |
| 山齒齒水淙淙 | A mountain in teeth-like ridges from which waters burble down, |
| 靈秀氣凝景蹤 | Pneuma of divine beauty congealed in physical form, |
| 一舉多萬丈峰 | Though just more than what two hands can lift it’s a peak ten thousand feet high! |
On the stone are three seal facsimile impressions. The double gourd-shaped seal on the far left is that of Nezhai訥齋, which is the personal name (zi) of He Pu 何樸 (1870-1932), studio name Nezhenyou zhai 訥真友齋 (Studio of the Stammering True Friend). A native of Wujin 武進 in Jiangsu (present-day Changzhou 常州), He Pu was an accomplished painter of flowers and plants and was especially good at painting from life. He also was an excellent engraver of seal and clerical script in metal and stone.
The second seal on the left in a square border is that of Zhongcai 仲才, the sobriquet of Zeng Binwen 曾彬文 (died 1860), personal name Dejun 德鈞 and studio name Yangzhen shanfang 養真山房 (Mountain Retreat for Nourishing Authenticity). A native of Changshu 常熟 in Jiangsu, Zeng was a tribute student, second class (fu gongsheng 副貢生) during the Daoguang era (1821-1850) and subsequently served as an instructor (zhujiao 助教) in the National University (Guozijian 國子監), but in 1860 found himself engaged in the defense of Changshu against the Taiping rebels. When the city fell, he was captured and killed.
清代 黑靈璧石帶皮題詩山子 《訥齋》《仲才》款
