In ancient times when there were no ball pens, everyone had to grind ink before they could write. To use an inkstone, you pour a little water onto the inkstone, grind an ink stick (solid ink pieces about the size of 2 fingers) on it and you get ink. I bet literate people back then got big right arms (assume they weren't lefties).

The 4 Famous Inkstones of China are:

Name of Inkstone	Province of Origination (map of Chinese provinces)	Mines
Duan	GuangDung	Lao (THE most famous), Song, Ma Ji (Plum Blossom), etc.
Cheng	ShanDung	DNY - Don't know yet.
Tao	GanSu	DNY
She	AnHui	DNY
*** Nowadays, there is a 5th well-know inkstone - "resin inkstone". Costs about $10 a big piece, heavy, cool to the touch, nice "carving", and looks very real. But technically, it is a piece of "inkPlastic".

In modern days, inkstones are used for decorative purpose more than anything else. Kam's idea is that if it pleases the eyes that much, why not?

Hong Kong is just next to the GuangDong province so it's easy to get Duan inkstones. And blessed by god, it's the top ranked inkstone of China. Lucky me.