The duan stone comes from the area around the Duanxi River in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province. It has a fine-grained body and smooth surface. They are also prized for the unique natural features such as 'green spots' or 'stone eyes'. The beauty of the duan inkstone is often derived from the successful combination of the decoration and the natural stone markings. For centuries, duan inkstones have been regarded as the finest inkstones of all.This rectangular duan inkstone comes with a wooden base. Due to its sight greenish tinge, this stone could be from Meihuakeng, a quarry at Beilingshan. The base of the ink stone shown here has been hollowed out to reduce the overall weight of the stone. Decoration comprises clouds on the inkstone's lips, a pavillion on the top right of the forehead, and mythical animals amid waves on all four sides. The water pool where the grinded ink collects, has two 'chi dragons facing one another.
