Will's Quills Ink Stick selection (with prices) - click here
Will’s Quills does carry a good range of Chinese ink sticks from mainland China. These include mostly black but also some colours like vermilion and a range of colour stick sets.
The shop did stock a fair range of Japanese Ink sticks at one time. But because our currency has been on reverse gear for the past twenty years, I have run out of money to keep them in stock, Also I have visited two of the Japanese ink stick factories, and read many articles about their industry and have some of their catalogues.
We do still carry silver and gold ink sticks from Japan, (please enquire for pricing at the shop).
I have been to three mainland China factories, and managed to speak to an ink maker on one occasion, and he took me on a side excursion that made me understand the true status of our modern ink stick making.
A general statement is - "Ink stick making is a dying art”. New materials are constantly being introduced to eliminate labour and inconsistency, but have sacrificed greatly on the quality of the final material. So buy up the older stock.
The Manufacture of Ink Sticks in China.
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Traditionally small twigs of trees (pine, tung) etc were placed in very low chambers and burnt slowly, the soot (carbon vapour) were then collected through layered outlets, the lightest, being the finest of the soot will rise highest, being collected at the top. The heavier soot would be collected at lower layers, these usually account for the bulk. This soot is then mixed with animal glue (hide or tendon glue from cattle, horses or deer) or fish glue and other spices to form a dough and it is then kneaded repeatedly. |
Sometimes they use a press (pressure provided by long and springy rod pivoting on the press, and using the body weight of the operator to sit on the beam, repeated presses like this will make the dough achieve "al dante" characteristic) very similar to the old traditional chinese noodle makers noodle press.
Then the weighted dough is placed in a wooden mould usually with intricate detail carved on them. One factory adopted the convention of embossing the formula of each ink stick on the end cross section. For artist grade ink sticks, one small bit of white pearl is place along the centre axis of the ink stick between the top edge and the top of the brand name.
The ink sticks then proceed to the drying stage.
At this stage, the ink stick that is extracted out of the wooden mould with six interlocking sides, is still "malleable", i.e. if it is placed on hard surface the molded details will flatten under its own weight. To preserved the molded details, the ink maker place the ink sticks onto the thick layer of white ash, the by product of the extraction of the soot. The ash yields enough to preserve the molded details, but the ink stick will bend or sag. Therefore virtually at daily intervals the ink sticks are turn over to counteract the bend. They are usually kept on separate drying trays, held suspended, with good ventilation. No heat is applied, and they let nature take its course. This process takes a few weeks. Then they are hard enough to be tied on straw and hang in bundles for further airing. Then the ink sticks are independently checked, hand painted with colour and gold. Then they are packaged with silk slip bags, cardboard or wooden boxes.
The entire process takes some six weeks, and it is all done by hand.
New Ink Stick available, top grade black - "Rhythm of Ink"
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"Rhythm of Ink" stick Boxed in a brocade cover and lined inside with red velvet, this stick will make a beautiful gift, or be a perfect ink for the discerning user. Priced at AUD$47.60 each. |
Other available ink sticks.
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our BLACK INK STICK COLLECTION: All are authentic wood soot/oil manufacture and are generally the 1 teal size (35gm approximately). Firstly though, the leftmost stick is 2 teal size. These are listed and priced as follows; 1. Chan Soong Wan Gou, 1000 year Pine tree. 2 teal at AUD$15.00 each. 2. Ching Tsah Mau. Indigo Tea ink. 1 teal at AUD$8.50 each. 3. Man Sau Gou Kyong, "102" Longevity Ink. 1 teal at AUD$9.50 each. 4. Gee Yuk Kong,1 teal at AUD$9.60 each. STUDENT GRADE INKS: 5. Dragon flying. hexagonal ink stick 1 teal at AUD$5.00 each. 6. Chin Chau Kong, 1000 Autumns. 1 teal at AUD$5.00 each. |
Ahn
Hwai Double Black stick set: This set of 2 x 1 teal size ink sticks is beautifully presented in a brocade silk box. From the famous Ahn Hwai province in China, where most Chinese ink sticks are made. A Dragon is painted on one side, with the brand name on the other. The set is AUD$38.00 boxed each. |
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Japanese 'Stone Flower' black stick & an Ahn Hwai black stick The Japanese student grade black ink stick called 'Stone Flower' sells for AUD$8.00 each. Also from the famous Ahn Hwai province in China, where most Chinese ink sticks are made. A student grade black ink stick at AUD$5.00 each. |
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Indigo Tea ink. 2 teal double size stick, at AUD$25.00 each. |
VERMILLION INK STICKS
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Our Vermilion ink sticks. Made from Mercury Sulphide, these are toxic and should not be ingested. They feel incredibly heavy for the size, when place in the hand. The largest is the No.7 a 2 teal (35 gm) weight, but still the same size as a standard 1 teal black. 7. 1000 years red. (unchanging vermilion shade) 2 teal at AUD$20.00 each. |
OTHER INK STICKS: VERMILION, GOLD & SPECIAL BLACK INK STICKS
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OTHER VERMILION STICKS BLACK INK STICK - GOLD PAINTED WITH DRAGONS |
COLOUR INK STICK SETS
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The smaller of the Chinese Colour Ink Stick Sets, this has 5 basic shades Red, White, Blue, Yellow and Green. Besides being Chinese painters shades, these stick are often used by people doing Suminagashi (Japanese marbling) for their base colours. AUD$30.00 a set. |
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The larger Chinese Colour Ink Stick Set, this also has the 5 basic shades Red, White, Blue, Yellow and Green. Besides being Chinese painters shades, these stick are often used by people doing Suminagashi (Japanese marbling) for their base colours. AUD$40.00 a set in a brocade covered box. |
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A Japanese quality Colour Ink Stick Set, that has 12 shades White, Red, Yellow, pale Blue, dark Brown, dark (Viridian) Green, dark (Prussian) Blue, mid (Ultramarine) Blue, Black, Sienna Brown and Umber Brown. AUD$82.00 a boxed set. |
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Last updated Nov 2008
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