Rare set of ancient inkstones on display

A collection of inkstones is being showcased at an exhibition at the Asian Arts Museum in Nice, France, through Feb 14.

The exhibition, titled Spirit of Harmony, presented by the Departmental Museum of Asian Arts in Nice, is dedicated to contemporary creations and literary traditions in China and Japan.

Chinese artist Yang Ermin contributed most of the inkstones on display.

An inkstone is a stone mortar for the grinding and storage of ink.

For serious calligraphers and painters, a good inkstone is as important as the quality of the ink. An inkstone will affect the quality and texture of the ink that is ground

And together with the brushes, ink and rice paper, inkstones are considered one of the "four treasures" of a Chinese scholar.

Yang's collection shows various types of inkstones from almost all Chinese dynasties.

"Inkstones are one of my passions," says Yang.

"I consider them as a representation of ancient Chinese civilization and a cross-cultural bridge, especially when curators introduce them to international audiences."