QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD (1735-1796)
LENGTH: 8.7CM
The paperweight is of rectangular form with a bevelled side. One side is incised with a zither, while the reverse has an imperial inscription of the Yuzhi shiji 御製詩集 (Poetry Collection By His Majesty [the Qianlong emperor]), Chuji 初集 (First Collection) (Siku quanshu 四庫全書 ed.), 26:21a-21b
題梅花琴 “On a Plum Blossom Zither”
| 梅花為文桐為身 | As prunus blossoms provide its decoration and wutong its body, |
| 梅桐琴耶誰主賓 | Who for this prunus and wutong zither is host, who the guest? |
| 何人斵此甘蕉形 | And who was it carved such a banana shape as this, |
| 大珠小珠丁晨星 | With big and little pearls attached as morning stars! |
| 空山一鼓風泠泠 | It’s the empty mountains first striking up the wind clear and chilly, |
| 洞庭始波歸仙軿 | Or Lake Dongting starting up waves to escort back an immortal’s carriage, |
| 無聲鳳噦琴有靈 | So when this silent phoenix calls out, a zither divinity imbued, |
| 箏琶之耳淨者聽 | Listen well, all you whose ears are unspoiled by koto or lute! |
The jade is of vibrant yellow tone with light orange russet inclusions throughout. It is well-polished to a smooth unctuous surface.
清乾隆 黃玉御題梅花琴詩文鎮紙
