清康熙 顧二娘製端石雙芝硯 「吳門顧二孃造」款KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722), SIGNED GU ERNIANG清康熙 顧二娘製端石雙芝硯 「吳門顧二孃造」款4 ¼ in. (10.8 cm.) long, zitan stand and coverA native of Suzhou, Gu Erniang's maiden name was recorded as Zao, and she was probably active during the late Kangxi to Yongzheng periods. Married into a distinguished family of ink stone carvers, she became a carver of ink stones herself, probably after the death of her husband. For a discussion of Gu Erniang, see Zhongguo Meishu Jiarenming Cidian, Shanghai, 1985, p. 1531. Compare to two Duan ink stones signed Gu Erniang in the Palace Museum, Beijing, one rectangular in shape, and incised with a very similar signature to that seen on the present ink stone, see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, The Four Treasures of the Study – Writing Paper and Inkstones, Hong Kong, p. 92, no. 58; the other also in the form of two intertwined lingzhi, but bearing a different character of 'niang' in the signature, see p. 93, no. 59. Compare also to a simulated bamboo-woven ink stone signed Gu Erniang in the later style, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, Inspiring the mind - Life of a scholar-official, 30 November 2020, lot 2839.Details A CARVED LINGZHI-FORM DUAN INK STONEKANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722), SIGNED GU ERNIANGThe ink stone is carved in the form of two large intertwined lingzhi heads, the cap of one flattened to form the shaped inkwell, the gills realistically rendered by finely incised radiating lines, with a six-character mark Wumen Gu Erniang zao, made by Gu Erniang of Wumen in sunken relief near the edge of the base.4 ¼ in. (10.8 cm.) long, zitan stand and cover Provenance A Japanese private collection, by repute Conditions of sale