ANTIQUE CHINESE TAIHU STONE GONGSHI OR SCHOLAR'S ROCK HAND CARVED HARDWOOD BASE

Description: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 GJPaw Auctions is very pleased to offer a rare antique Chinese Taihu stone Gongshi or Scholars' Rock. The word gong means "spirit" and shi "stone." The Chinese interest in collecting rocks for religious or aesthetic purposes has been traced back to the Han dynasty (206 B.C. - 220A.D.) when connoisseurs began using large stones to decorate their gardens and courtyards. The interest developed from an appreciation of the larger garden rocks, but the smaller size enabled them to be carried indoors where they could be used for the purposes of meditation, being appreciated for their dramatic form and texture or the feelings they evoked from the viewer. Gongshi can be loosely divided into two general categories: abstract and representational. Abstract stones are commonly called “Scholar’s Rocks”. They may be reminiscent of coral or cloudlike shapes and often have swirls, holes and myriad caverns on their surface. They typically appear to be naturally eroded, sometimes resembling famous or imaginary mountains and natural wonders. Scholar’s rocks are considered the embodiment of the transformational powers of nature. Gongshi which fall into the second category, representational, can also be called “Spirit Stones.” In this category, the rocks themselves transcend the abstract and begin to reference the known world. Stones with inclusions which look like people, mythological creatures, and other imagery fall into this category as well as those with shapes which do the same. Spirit stones condense the known world in an abstract fashion, or conversely, expand the abstract world in a representational way. This extraordinary example was clearly appreciated for the representational qualities of the form, which are at once both dramatic and poignant. It is formed from taihu stone, found at the bottom of Lake Tai in Heilongjiang Province, China. The rock measures 18 inches in width by 6 inches in depth by 17 inches in height (45.7 cm by 15.2 cm by 43.1 cm) and is mounted on a fitted base hand-carved from rosewood (?), an exceptionally desirable hard wood. The age of this unique piece is indeterminate; however, the base has the appearance and patina of an antique and the intrinsic qualities of this individual rock makes it highly desirable to collectors and aficionados alike. It is guaranteed authentic and was collected in China many years ago. It would be a terrific addition to any collection of Chinese antiques and art as well as scholar's objects in general.Additional images are available by request, and can usually be provided within 1 business day.Please inquire for freight quote, which will include custom crating and packaging, and International freight to your closest port, business or residential address. Additional shipping options, such as freight forwarding or white glove service can be added upon request. GJPaw Auctions has been in the Art business for over 35 years and is now expanding its operation to eBay. Our goal is to bring the same experience and excitement of collecting that we have been delivering in-person to collectors across the globe at Primitive in Chicago. Every object we sell online has been carefully hand-selected with special attention to detail, quality, and significance. We ship worldwide. Add GJPaw to Sellers you Follow and please take a moment to look at our other auction items. A0806-008

Price: 8995 USD

Location: Chicago, Illinois

End Time: 2024-12-23T18:25:03.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD