Items Similar to Scholar
s Stone / “Scholar
s Rock” Lingbi (灵璧石), China, Qing Dynasty
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Scholar
s Stone / “Scholar
s Rock” Lingbi (灵璧石), China, Qing Dynasty
$21,531.61
£15,988.42
€18,000
CA$29,583.35
A$32,175.15
CHF 17,051.65
MX$385,525.55
NOK 216,717.76
SEK 198,542.93
DKK 137,233.84
About the Item
An exceptional scholar's rock lingbi (灵璧石), traditionally intended for Chinese scholars, on a very elaborate Qing period wooden base. It is presented with the larger end above the smaller, a position known in China as yun tou, yu jiao or 'head in the clouds, feet in the rain', evoking an auspicious rising cloud of smoke. Its particular shape allows it to be observed both from the front and from the side.
The lingbi stone, a dark gray/black lustrous veined with white, is particularly comparable to a copy sold by Christies' in 2015 in Hong Kong (lot 3005, sale of December 2, 2015).
Dimensions: 56 cm high by 28 cm wide (the stone itself is 38 cm high).
Gongshi (Chinese: 供石), also called scholar's stones or observation stones, are natural or shaped rocks, traditionally appreciated by Chinese scholars and displayed in their workshops.
As early as the Neolithic period, nearly 7,000 years ago, stones of this type have been discovered buried in tombs. However, it wasn't until the late Tang Dynasty (618-907) that scholarly stones became a truly collectible item. Their influence on Chinese literature began to be felt a little later: "Mi Fu (1051-1107) and others composed essays on stones," explains Christie's specialist Pola Antebi, "and Du Wan (12th century) compiled the first comprehensive catalog of stones, 'Yunlin shipu,' testifying to the growing appreciation of these stones."
As early as the Song Dynasty, naturally eroded stones were collected and displayed for viewing. By the 17th century, some stones were considered important and respected enough to be the subject of portraits. In his mid-19th-century work, Tanshi (Conversations on Rocks), Liang Jiutu argued that "in collecting, it is the choice of stones that is paramount." If the stone does not resemble a painting created by the forces of nature, it should not be chosen."
During the Tang dynasty, four important qualities were recognized for stones: fineness (瘦 shòu), openness (透 tòu), perforations (漏 lòu), and wrinkling (皺 zhòu). With these qualities, the observer can admire the strength of the contours, perhaps seeing a mountain ridge or a cloud rising within the amorphous mass. The stone can be displayed on a specially carved rosewood base. Scholar's stones are a traditional subject of Chinese painting.
Rocks are classified according to their origin. The most venerated sites are (i) the Lingbi Stone (Lingbishi) (灵璧石) of Lingbi, Anhui Province, (ii) the Taihu Stone (Taihushi) (太湖石) of Lake Tai, Jiangsu Province, and (iii) the Yingde Stone (Yingshi or Yingdeshi) (英石 or 英德石) of Yingde, Guangdong Province. Besides small table specimens, many monumental boulders are found in gardens throughout China, including the "auspicious cloud peak" in the Lingering Garden in Suzhou.
Robert D. Mowry, a distinguished expert and curator emeritus of the Harvard Art Museum, describes them as "stones prized by Chinese scholars, displayed in the rarefied atmosphere of their studios." The Chinese scholar drew his inspiration from nature; He didn't venture into nature to paint or compose poems, explains Christie's specialist Pola Antebi. Instead, he worked in the privacy of his studio and drew inspiration from these "mountain depictions."
The stones were often brought to scholars from remote areas, with the finest coming from riverbeds or mountains. Some of the most valuable examples came from Lingbi, in Anhui Province, northern China. "Because of their density, Lingbi stones are naturally resonant," explains Mowry. "The best Lingbi stones are deep black; often slightly textured, their surfaces appear wet and shiny."
- Dimensions:Height: 22.05 in (56 cm)Width: 11.03 in (28 cm)Depth: 7.88 in (20 cm)
- Style:Qing (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1850-1911
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:MOUGINS, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU10660247021602
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