The inkstone is signed Qitang on the base. Qitang is the alias of Zhang Yanchang (1738-1814) who was a well-known seal carver, calligrapher, painter and a disciple of the master seal carver Ding Jing (1695-1765).

The inkstone cover is carved in relief with a scholar bowing, his hands clasped, and the signature of Ren Yi (1840-1896), followed by a seal reading Bonian. Ren Yi, also known as Ren Bonian, was one of the most influential Chinese painters of the Shanghai School during the late Qing period. He took ‘bonian’ (one-hundred years) as his alias claiming that it would take him a century to achieve success.
Inkstone: 5 in. (12.8 cm.) long; stand and cover: 5¹⁄₄ in. (13.4 cm.) long
Seal box and cover: 2¹⁄₂ in. (6.3 cm.) diam., Japanese wood box

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