"Heavenly Grotto" Chinese Lingbi Stone Shrine

A fantastic Chinese scholar's stone, called gongshi, of gray lingbi limestone, mounted on a hardwood stand, late Qing or early Republic, early 20th century, circa 1910, China . The ...

The Chinese scholar rock on offer here is a wonderful example of Ying (also known as Yingde stone), a less common type than Lingbi or Taihu. Gray in color, it has an extraordinary up...

A malachite rock specimen with intense green and black colors fitted on a wood stand and displayed as a Chinese scholar stone. The gemstone in t...

Displayed on a black custom carved wood stand, this solid malachite rock specimen with intense green and black colors functions as a Chinese scholar stone. The gemstone showcases the...

A large malachite rock specimen with intense green and black colors fitted on a wood stand and displayed as a Chinese scholar stone. The gemstone in the vertical botryoidal form was ...

An intriguing Chinese scholar rock in vertical form presented on a custom hand-carved wood stand circa late Qing Dynasty. The greyish black stone is of Yingde type. Its upright form ...

A natural malachite rock specimen with striking green and black colors fitted on a wood stand for viewing and meditating. The front of the gemstone features tight and small polished ...

On offer is a vertical Chinese scholar rock balanced on a carved wood display stand. The specimen is a wonderful example of Ying (or Yingde) stone, one of the four famed stone types known to Chinese literati and a less common type than Lingbi or Taihu. Gray in color, it has an extraordinary upright form rising from a small stem, like an "Avatar Mountain" peeking out of the mist. Visually it feels impossible for the stone to balance on its thin stem and the wood base. The illusion is due to the thickness of the depth which is not immediately visible from front or back. This type of exotic form was highly desired by the collector. The surface is remarkable with pronounced schisms, gullies, folding lines, with several formation of openings that give it a grotto and airy feel. Different sceneries are revealed when viewed from different angles, making this one of the most intriguing stones in Tishu Gallery...

A natural malachite rock specimen with striking green and black colors fitted on a wood stand for viewing and meditating. The front of the gemstone features tight and small polished botryoidal form, revealing a beautiful, mottled pattern with intense colors of contrasting green and black. The back is natural with exposed malachite fibers fused in the bedrock. The slab form rock is displayed as a viewing stone on a fitted wood base by an American collector of Chinese scholar rocks. Known as "Peacock Rock" in Chinese, there was a more recent tradition in China (from Qing Dynasty and on) to collect the exotic gemstones such as malachite and turquoise specimen...

Chinese Gray Scholar's Rock, of naturalistic form, on early 19th century rosewood stand.