| Viewing Stones |
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Viewing Stones (termed Suiseki in Japan and Scholar's Rocks in China) are naturally shaped stones that are enjoyed for their intrinsic beauty, and likeness to a scene, or object, from nature. They are displayed indoors, normally mounted on a custom carved wooden stand. Stone appreciation is an ancient Asian art-form, now gaining interest and enthusiasm in the Western cultures. This gallery is my small personal collection of viewing stones. Thank you for visiting... Joe. | |
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MOUNTAIN STONE This large suiseki, a Furuya-ishi, is from the Wakayama prefecture of Japan. It was originally found circa the early 20th century. I acquired it from noted Asian antiques dealer Brian Harkins, who co-produced the 1995 "When Men and Mountains Meet" selling exhibition of stones. There is a wealth of detail in this stone: many peaks, gorges, valleys, rivers and waterfalls, and so it is named "Thousand Peaks". This Suiseki is 38cms wide and the Japanese carved Daiza is of stained softwood. |
[ Click the images for a larger view ] |
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MOUNTAIN STONE This suiseki, a Seigaku-ishi, is from Japan. It is a modern stone originally found probably within the last 10 years. Unusually for many of these more modern stones, it is also good from the rear of the stone. This Suiseki is 8cms high and the Japanese carved Daiza is of stained softwood. |
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OBJECT STONE This tiny 5cms object looks resembles a baby seal. The stone hasn't been worked, the light areas, such as on the nose and eyes, are completely natural. I could never figure a way to create a stand for it so display it propped onto this old piece of Yew tree root, though it is somewhat unstable and really could do with a better display solution. My wife found it when we were out walking on Climping beach, Sussex in 1999. |
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OBJECT STONES I found these object stones during several stone collecting trips to the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, England in the mid 1990's. They are all composed of Iron Pyrites (Fool's Gold) nodules. They are mostly just a few cms high, and their stands are carved from Padauk wood. I especially enjoy the pairing of the Snail sitting on a leaf sheltering under a Toadstool, you can view it enlarged by clicking the image below here. 
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SCHOLAR'S ROCK At 63cms tall, this is a Scholar's Rock in the Chinese tradition. I found it on a hill top in Wales in an area of exposed Karst 'pavement' of Carboniferous Limestone. The stand is carved in the Chinese style from Padauk wood.This is a wonderful wood for stands. After first working it is a frightening bright orange! but after a few days oxidises to a red/maroon. Over months and years it further mellows to a very deep dark maroon, as shown in the enlarged image of how to stand looks now after 20 years. An imaginative friend said he thought the stone resembled a Dragon flying through thundery clouds, and so the name "Thunder Dragon" was born. A very nice lady created an abstract ink painting of it together with the Chinese characters for "Thunder Dragon" on a wood plaque that I had prepared for it. As with many Scholar's Rocks, this stone is quite striking in person. |
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PICTURE STONE I found this Suiseki during a collecting trip on the south coast of England circa 1995, and was immediately struck by the image of an old Oak tree on a rocky outcrop. I was heavily into Bonsai at the time, and so a stone with an image of a tree on it ticked all the boxes. The stone is 21cms high, and the minimalistic stand is of Padauk wood. |
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SCHOLAR'S ROCK When I found this stone in a chalk quarry all I could see was a tiny bit of dark material poking out of a lump of white chalk. I took it to a friendly stone mason who kindly carefully sand-blasted the chalk to release the embedded stone. And what a great surprise, not only was the exposed stone a far more interesting shape than the usual boring flint and chert nodules, but had a large hole through the middle, and a smaller hole adjacent. Total height of stone and stand is 16cms. The stand is of Camphor wood, finished with Shellac. |
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PICTURE STONE The image on the surface of his stone resembles the goddess Kannon,the Buddhist God of Mercy, floating on clouds, or standing on rocks. I found it on a beach in Dorset. The stone is 13cms tall, and the stand is of the hardwood Wenge. |
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FIGURE STONE This Suiseki is from the Kamogawa river in Japan. It was probably collected late in the 19th century, and was a very generous gift to me from my pal Dave Sampson, who acquired it during one of his adventures to Japan. It can be viewed as a robed human figure, or possibly one of the Asian goddesses. The old Kiri wood storage box has characters for "Kamogawa" on the inside of the lid, and possibly "Figure Stone" on the front. This Suiseki is 15cms tall, and the Japanese carved Daiza is of a hardwood, possibly a variety of Rosewood. |
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CHRYSANTHEMUM STONE This small 8cms tall stone was a kind gift from my friend Lynn Boyd who found it during a collecting trip. A charming and delightful lady with a great gift for creativity, and who I hear is very sadly no longer with us. The stand is of Indian Rosewood, and was one of my early attempts at carving a stand. The stone probably deserves a better stand, but it was part of my personal journey, and so remains. |
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FURTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES
• David Sampson has a connoisseur website devoted to Japanese Suiseki sales. • There is an enthusiast's forum on the Internet Bonsai Club devoted to Viewing Stones. • My 'go to' book is The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation by Covello and Yoshimura ISBN 0804814856. • The Richard Rosenblum Chinese Rock catalogue Worlds within Worlds is well worth tracking down. |