A Chinese carved "Mirror" inkstone with hardwood box 仿銅鏡硯台及木盒

Carved in the form of an archaic bronze mirror, the stone of striated brick red and yellow, the "back" with motifs of sinuous dragons and floral bands, centered by a knop, the face of the inkstone bears a signature "Nancun Gao Qipei", left inscribed "Dinghai nian chu dong" (early winter of 1704), inscribed ''Ming shi xuan" mark to the top, with wood base and cover, possibly zitan.

NOTE:

Gao Qipei (1660-1734), was active during the Kangxi(1662-1722) to Yongzheng (1723-1735) periods. He succeeded as an official in southern China; and he is best known today as a painter.

註：

高其佩（1660-1734）字韋之，又號南村，活躍於康熙至雍正年間，名宦後裔，亦為指畫派開山鼻祖。

(Dia: 6 3/8 in.)