AN IMPERIAL MOULDED AND CARVED INKSTONE-SHAPED OCTAGONAL INK CAKEQIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)The octagonal ink cake is carved on top with an undecorated central 'grinding surface’ encircled with a narrow water trough, all within a border finely carved and gilt with four carps and three mythical beasts amidst waves. The reverse is inscribed and gilt with an imperial poem followed by four characters reading Qianlong yuming and two seals reading bide, paring to virtue’, and langrun, 'bright and lustrous’. The sides are inscribed with fang tang baleng chengni yan, 'imitating the octagonal inkstone of the Tang dynasty', and chen Zhengrui gong jin, 'respectfully presented by your humble servant, Zhengrui'.3 7/8 in. (10 cm.) diam.