Modular Calligraphy Set

2017

Portable Chinese calligraphy stationery
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Compared to modern writing methods, brush calligraphy is much more cumbersome in its use of tools, and the necessity of having an appropriate working environment. But its expressive, creative and spiritual qualities cannot be expressed as fully via the use of modern writing methods. In order to render this traditional method of writing more convenient and efficient, thereby, hopefully reintegrating it into the modern way of life, without sacrificing either culture or pleasure, I have rendered each of the tools modular and portable, so that they can be freely combined as snuggly as Tetris blocks into a box the same size as today’s stationary cases.

The set comes with two types of boxes, the brush box and the ink box, the former allows for a combination of different hair types of brush heads [1] and coloured stems, as well as paperweight, pen rest and paper cutter. Whilst the ink box allows for the free combination of various colours of liquid ink, Inksticks, inkstone [2], Water dropper and seal. Each set being contained within their own modules, allowing the user to combine different tools into a full case to suit individual needs and preferences.
[1] The head of the brush generally divided in soft, hard and mixed categories. Soft brushes are typically made of sheep hair, which absorb water very well and are great for writing and painting in large scales. Hard haired brushes usually consist of rabbit, weasel, and horse hair etc., which offers better control of the thickness and sharpness. Mixed brushes are made of two or more kinds of animal hair.
[2] The inkstone (Chinese:砚) is used to grind the ink stick into powder. This powder is then mixed with water in a well in the inkstone in order to produce usable ink for calligraphy.