Stationery: Ink Rest 文房用具：墨床

墨床又称墨架、墨台。研墨时稍事停歇，因墨锭磨墨处湿润，乱放的话容易玷污其他的东西，因此墨床是供临时搁墨锭用的用具。
  The ink rest is also called the ink-rack or inkstand. One might want to have a break while he is grinding the ink. Since the ink stick is wet and could easily stain other things, an ink rest serves as a utensil wher the stick is temporarily placed.
  墨床多用玉、瓷制作，通常不大，宽不过二指，长不过三寸。造型一般为几案式或床式，或曲折，或简练。
  The ink rest is mostly made of jade and porcelain. Usually it is not very big, no wider than two fingers put abreast and no longer than three inches. With either complex or simple workmanship, the ink rest is mostly in the shape of a table or bed.
  目前所见最早的墨床为明代器物。明代由于制墨业的繁荣，墨床也随之流行，它的外形常与墨形相吻合，又因明代尚朴素浑厚之风，因此明代的墨床大都线条劲挺，棱角分明，表面纹饰极浅，呈平面化，有的干脆制成光面，通体不加任何雕饰。
  Currently, the earliest ink rest ever found was made in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In Ming period, the ink rests were very popular because of the prosperity of ink-making industry. The shape matches the ink stone perfectly. Due to the plain and robust style was admired in Ming Dynasty, the ink rests in that period often had straight lines and square shape. The surface of the ink bed has shallow design on it. Some are even made with smooth surfaces without any carvings or decorations.
  清代是文房雅玩的鼎盛时期，墨床的制作材质，也从古铜、玉器，发展到紫檀、陶瓷、漆器、琥珀玛瑙、翡翠、景泰蓝。它从单纯的盛墨用具，发展到既实用又可赏玩的艺术品。
  The stationeries saw their prime time in Qing Dynasty and the ink rests were made with more types of materials, which ranged from bronze and jade to red sandalwood, porcelain, lacquer, amber, agate, jadeite and cloisonné. The ink rest had developed from the pure stationery to artworks that could be used and appreciated at the same time.