Chinese ink comes in solidified form as 'ink sticks' or 'ink cakes'. First water is sprinkled on the rough surface of an ink stone. Then one end of the ink stick is placed on the grinding surface of the stone and then gradually ground to produce the ink. More water is added during the grinding process to increase the amount of ink produced. An ink stick, together with an ink brush, ink stone and paper, are the four writing implements traditionally known as the 'Four Treasures of the Study'. Ink sticks are made mainly of soot and animal glue. This material is pressed into molds which have been decorated with characters that are usually highlighted in gold afterwards. This particular ink cake originally belonged to a set of five but we acquired only this one in Macau in 1993. It is decorated with a depiction of a scholar under a banana tree and with a poem. According to the information given to us by the dealer, it dates from the Qing period (1644 – 1912). Length 5.6 cm. Width 5.6 cm. Thickness 0.9 cm.