Chinese Carved Soap Stone Figurines

A Chinese scholar rock carved from a natural lapis stone and displayed on a brocade wrapped stand circa late 19th century Qing Dynasty. The brightly blue lapis was considered as am exotic gemstone in China and mostly imported from Persia through the silk road. While not a conventional rock types of materials for scholar stones, it is occasionally carved and polished into smaller Gongshi to be displayed and meditated upon in the scholar's study. Similar approaches were also done with jade, malachite and turquoise, even petrified wood, Chenxiang Agarwood, roots in spirited form, porcelain and even bronze in rock forms. The lapis was carved into a mountain form with stacked rocks...

A fine antique/vintage Chinese carved tigers eye stone libation cup supported by a dragon and dating from the early 20th century or possibly earlier. The hard stone cup...

An extraordinary specimen created by nature millions of years ago, this large and stunning Chinese black chrysanthemum stone features white crystalline mineral (calcite and chalcedon...

A Chinese scholar stone originated from Wuling Mountains, Hunan Province in central China. A type of geological wonder, formed through wind erosion and polishing by the elements of t...

Chinese Rosewood brush holder (pen pot) circa late Qing dynasty. Finely carved on surface with a sitting Buddha on lotus throne holding his hands in Vitarka mu...

This sublime Chinese scholar stone was collected from the Jade Peaks in the Kun Mountains, Jiangsu Province. Known sometimes as "the magic stone" in China due to its unique formation...

An unusual Chinese scholar stone originated from Wuling Mountains, Hunan Province in central China. A type of geological wonder, formed through wind erosion and polishing by the elem...

A Chinese scholar stone in an upright mushroom form displayed on a custom wood stand. Wonderful and well-balanced, the ocher and cream color ston...

A Caitao type Chinese scholar stone presented on a carved confirming wood stand circa 1990s. Caitao, which means colored pottery in Chinese, was a newly discovered scholar stone type...

A small desk top Chinese scholar stones (also known as Gong Shi, meditation stone and spirit rock) on a fitted display wood stand circa 19th century. This is likely a grey Lingbi type stone with subtle arch mimics a horizontal mountain range. The wrinkles and folds on the greyish black surface were perfectly weathered by elements for millenniums. Smooth and rugged at the same time, the mountain range shows a poetic formation that was often depicted in the ink scroll...