East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 17th to 18th century CE. An evocative "gongshi", a scholar's rock or scholar's stone, this example a naturally formed piece of black limestone that stands tall and folds inward near the top. The form of the rock resembles a flower about to bud or a person standing wrapped in a cloak. The somber color - very dark grey with occasional bands of opaque white - contrasting with the wonderfully eroded form suggests that this rock was collected and displayed for its shape. It is accompanied by a low, dark cherry-colored wood base. Size of stone: 10.5" W x 19" H (26.7 cm x 48.3 cm); size of base: 16.25" W x 2" H (41.3 cm x 5.1 cm)
Gongshi are part of the Chinese tradition of venerating beautiful stones which extends back to the Neolithic, when prized geological specimens were placed into tombs as offerings. In the Song Dynasty, Chinese writers composed essays and catalogues dedicated to rocks; artists began to paint them in elegant compositions that celebrated their natural qualities as evocative of larger forms in the landscape like prominent mountains or mythological creatures like dragons. A Chinese scholar would have displayed this example in his studio so that he and other members of the literati could contemplate its contours.
Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection, acquired in the early 1980s; ex-old English collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#153234
Condition
Great deposits on surface. Light wear commensurate with age. Base has some small dings and dents but is overall in nice condition. It is probably from the 19th century.