Han Dynasty
Unearthed at Puyang,Henan
Height:12.8cm
Diameter:32cm

Six dragons on the cover converge on around knob inscribed with the character "Jun". The three legs whichsupport the stone are fashioned like mythical animals with pointedears, gazing eyes and gaping mouths. Cloud pattern and thecharacters decorate the center of the inkstone's bottom.

In the form of a flat round disc, the stone of a greyish brown tone, the inkstone is comprised of two parts: the cover and the inkstone. The cover was surmounted by six entwined dragons whose heads surrounding and playing a ball in the center, which forms a gem-like knob inscribed with a word of “Jun(gentleman)”. The  inscribed words at the border states that the present inkstone values 2,000 coins.

The creation of this inkstone fully exhibits the exquisite sculpting skill and unique artistic design of the artisan of the time. And it is the earliest with inscription and stated value amongst the examples discovered in China so far, so it is a rare artwork, also a treasure of stone carving art of the Eastern Han Dynasty, as well as a rare specimen of the Four Treasures of Study of the Eastern Han Dynasty.