This carved small plaque is made of a special type of ink stone that is used to make ink stand or ink bed for grinding ink (with an ink stick and water). It was made to fit into a small table top screen stand and serves as the actual screen itself.

The carving on this piece is interesting for its stylized high rocks and low waves which immediately set off a dramatic spacial relationship against the back drop of the objects- the negative space. These seemingly potent and powerful rocks in their vertical shapes are high, overlook, and almost dominate the much smaller waves and grass-like moving vegetation, creating a smaller intimate world within a larger world. Ancient scholar's object, such as this one, was often used by the literati class to symbolically express their feeling of being oppressed by the political climate or by the ruling class. This carved plaque composed of a scene with water, rocks, and bamboo is not at all quiet and peaceful. It seems to carry a lot of emotions. It's an expressive art. The bamboo was often used by the literati class as a symbol of high virtue for oneself.

A table screen gives a sense of intimacy for an open desk. It eventually became a must have object to showcase a scholar's cultivated taste for art and even for one's philosophy towards life.

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