硯，也稱“硯臺”。中國傳統文房用具，始于漢代。文房四寶之一。以筆蘸墨寫字，筆、墨、硯三者密不可分。硯雖然在“筆墨紙硯”的排次中位居殿軍，但從某一方面來說，卻居領銜地位，所謂“四寶”硯為首，這是由于它質地堅實，能傳之百代的緣故。Inkstone, also known as "inkstone". Chinese traditional stationery began in the Han Dynasty. One of the four treasures of the study. To write with a pen dipped in ink, pen, ink and inkstone are inseparable. Although inkstone ranks in the rank of "pen, ink, paper and inkstone", it is in the leading position in a certain way. The so-called "four treasures" inkstone is the first, which is due to its solid texture and can be handed down for hundreds of generations.
澄泥硯已有千年歷史。在唐時，河南虢州、山西絳縣、山東青州已成為制作澄泥硯的著名產地；在現代，澄泥硯的產地有河南洛陽、河北鉅鹿、山東青州、山西絳縣等地。澄泥硯屬于泥陶硯的一種非石硯；澄泥硯制作始于晉唐時期，興盛于宋代；其特點是質地堅硬耐磨，易于發墨，且不耗墨，可與石硯媲美。澄泥硯是黃河文化、民族文化的代表，在唐宋時期為御用貢品。Chengni inkstone has a history of thousands of years. In Tang Dynasty, Guozhou of Henan Province, Jiangxian County of Shanxi Province and Qingzhou of Shandong Province have become famous producing areas of Chengni inkstone; in modern times, the producing areas of Chengni inkstone include Luoyang of Henan Province, Julu of Hebei Province, Qingzhou of Shandong Province and Jiangxian County of Shanxi Province. Chengni inkstone is a kind of non stone inkstone of clay pottery inkstone. The production of Chengni inkstone began in Jin and Tang Dynasties and flourished in Song Dynasty. Its characteristics are hard and wear-resistant, easy to ink, and no consumption of ink, comparable to stone inkstone. Chengni inkstone is a representative of the Yellow River culture and national culture. It was used as a royal tribute in Tang and Song dynasties.
澄泥硯之所以倍受贊譽是因為它擁有四大獨有的特色：
一是質地佳，澄泥硯質堅如石，耐磨持久，澤若美玉，擊若鐘磬。宋代米芾在他對硯的有關論述中，盛贊澄泥硯堅實如此——“扣致金聲，刀之不入”。
二是發墨好，古人把澄泥硯視為“陶之屬”，“性堅而不燥、潤筆不損毫”，因其細膩如泥，發墨快，發墨性強，且不滲水。
三是色彩奇，澄泥硯的顏色純正、大方，它的“五光十色”是端歙、洮硯等名硯所沒有的，當時甚至流行以顏色來挑選區分澄泥硯的優劣，如“鱔魚黃為上，其次是朱砂紅、綠豆砂、豆瓣砂、玫瑰紫、胭脂紅、蟹殼灰、炭黑。”不過澄泥硯的色彩雖千變萬化卻絕無艷麗妖冶之態。
四是雕刻美，澄泥硯造型生動，雕工講究，飛禽走獸，花鳥魚蟲無一不是澄泥硯的創作澄泥硯的創作對象。圓雕、浮雕、透雕、線刻等雕刻技法統一運用于一方澄泥硯中，“其形小則柔美玲瓏，大則敦厚氣派，摹人則清秀俊雅，狀物則靈動華麗。”
The reason why Chengni inkstone is highly praised is that it has four unique characteristics
First, the texture is good, Chengni inkstone is as hard as stone, wear-resistant and durable, like jade and chime. In his discussion on inkstone in Song Dynasty, Mi Fu praised Chengni inkstone as solid as this: "buckle to the sound of gold, the knife can not enter.".
Second, it is good for ink making. The ancients regarded Chengni inkstone as "the property of pottery" because it is delicate, quick, strong and impermeable.
Third, the color of Chengni inkstone is pure and generous. Its "colorful" is not found in famous inkstones such as Duanhe and Taoyan. At that time, it was even popular to select the advantages and disadvantages of Chengni inkstone by color. For example, "eel yellow is the first, followed by cinnabar, mung bean sand, Douban sand, rose purple, carmine, crab shell ash, carbon black." However, although the color of Chengni inkstone is changeable, it is not gorgeous and enchanting.
The fourth is the beauty of sculpture. Chengni inkstone is vivid in shape, exquisite in carving, birds, birds, fish and insects. Sculpture techniques such as round carving, relief carving, openwork carving and line engraving are applied to a piece of Chengni inkstone, "its small shape is soft and exquisite, its large is graceful and generous, its imitation of people is delicate and elegant, and its shape is vivid and gorgeous."
此對藏品為浮雕雙龍戲珠紋澄泥硯與浮雕龍鳳麒麟紋澄泥硯，藏品整體樣式、圖案極為大方典雅，雖有磨損，但品相精致。硯臺本身由硯身、硯蓋組合而成，此款式可謂十分講究。藏品上雕刻有浮雕龍紋、鳳紋、麒麟等神獸。祥云裊裊，雕工精細，栩栩如生。神龍飛躍而起，鳳凰展翅翱翔，麒麟身姿矯健，端正威儀，展示了神獸的霸氣，其雕工流暢，技藝精湛，完美地體現了中國神獸的神秘色彩，而神獸紋歷來是皇室貴族專屬，普通人可望而不可即，尤為可貴。
The collection is made of relief double dragon playing pearl pattern and relief Dragon Phoenix Qilin pattern. The overall style and pattern of the collection are very generous and elegant. Although there is wear and tear, it is exquisite in appearance. The inkstone itself is composed of the body and the cover of the inkstone. This style can be said to be very exquisite. The collection is carved with relief dragon, Phoenix, unicorn and other animals. The auspicious clouds curl and the carving is delicate and lifelike. The Dragon leaped up and the Phoenix soared. The unicorn was vigorous and dignified. It showed the domineering power of the beast. Its carving was smooth and exquisite, which perfectly reflected the mysterious color of Chinese divine beast. The pattern of divine beast has always been exclusive to the royal family and nobles, and ordinary people can't expect it, which is particularly valuable.
澄泥硯之所以備受歷代帝王和文人雅士所推崇，與其紛繁復雜的工藝、出眾的品質特性有關。首先，要將一個特制的雙層絹袋吊掛于河流中，河水裹帶的泥沙流入絹袋，經第一層過濾后沉入第二層絹袋的細泥即為澄泥，光是這樣的淘洗澄結就需要一兩年的時間。再將濾制出的澄泥放置一年以上，歷經冬夏以去其燥性才可以使用。以這樣的細泥為原料慘進黃丹團揉搓，再放入模具成型，用竹刀雕琢，待其干燥后放進窯內燒，最后裹上黑臘燒制而成的硯，堅如鐵石，質地細膩，猶如嬰兒皮膚一般，并且貯水不涸，歷寒不冰，易于發墨而不損筆毫，堪稱上品。澄泥硯是燒制而成，特殊的窯變工藝，使其成色紋路表現出豐富多樣的變化，同一窯產品，既有顏色單一者，又有集眾色于一身者，幾乎沒有完全相同的。因此可以說，無論哪種色澤的一方澄泥硯，都是一個獨一無二的存在。澄泥硯出于水而成與火，材質為土，燒窯需木，出爐成金，小小的一方硯，卻融入了中國古老文化之陰陽五行，這又給澄泥硯帶來了幾分神秘，也為其增添了無窮的魅力。
The reason why Chengni inkstone is highly praised by emperors and literati in the past dynasties is related to its complicated technology and outstanding quality characteristics. First of all, a special double-layer silk bag should be hung in the river. The sediment wrapped in the river flows into the silk bag. After the first layer of filtration, the fine mud that sinks into the second layer of silk bag is the clarified mud. It takes a year or two to clear the sediment. After that, the sludge can be used only after it has gone through winter and summer to remove its dryness. This kind of fine mud is used as raw material and kneaded in Huangdan ball. Then it is moulded and carved with bamboo knife. After drying, it is put into the kiln and burned. Finally, it is wrapped with Black wax. It is as hard as iron stone and delicate as a baby's skin. Besides, the water is not dried up and the cold is not frozen. It is easy to make ink without damaging the brush. It is called the top grade. Chengni inkstone is made by firing. The special kiln transformation technology makes its finished color patterns show rich and varied changes. The same kiln products have not only single color, but also a combination of various colors, almost not the same. Therefore, it can be said that no matter what kind of color one side of Chengni inkstone, is a unique existence. Chengni inkstone is made of water and fire. It is made of earth, wood is needed for firing kiln, and gold is made out of furnace. However, a small inkstone is integrated with the Yin-Yang and five elements of ancient Chinese culture, which brings some mystery to Chengni inkstone and adds infinite charm to it.
