Dimensions: Height: 4.1cm; Length: 18cm; Width: 13.6cm

Origin: Excavated from Changsha City, Hunan Province

This rectangular ink stone made in the shape of a winnowing basket was one of the popular types of ink stone made during the Tang Dynasty.

This ink stone has a round head and a square tail, with a raised rim, a flat top, and a rove near the head for storing ink. There are two feet under the mouth of the “basket” to raise the rimless mouth and keep the top higher.

The bottom bears an inscription that specifies when and where the ink stone was made.