Mid 20th Century Japanese Suiseki Viewing Stone / Furuya-Ishi / Limestone / Rugged Rock Face

Details

Description

This is a Japanese suiseki viewing stone, and judging by its form and quality, it is thought to belong to … Read more This is a Japanese suiseki viewing stone, and judging by its form and quality, it is thought to belong to the category of stones known in Japan as "Furuya-ishi."

In general, stone found in the mountainous areas of Wakayama Prefecture is called Furuya-ishi. It is characterized by a lustrous surface etched with fine grooves, and it has long been treasured by suiseki enthusiasts. However, even stones that were not collected in Wakayama are often called Furuya-ishi if their quality is similar.

The exact place where this stone was collected cannot be identified. Even so, we believe it is one of those stones known as Furuya-ishi.

Suiseki is a uniquely Japanese aesthetic in which a stone shaped by nature over a long span of time is appreciated as a landscape: mountains, rivers, or coastlines. No carving or shaping is applied by human hands. The natural form of the stone is simply admired as it is.

This stone is a little different from the usual mountain ranges and chains. It gives the impression of an enormous rock face, reduced to a small size. It also calls to mind those rare rocks you sometimes see along a coastline, rising suddenly out of the sea. It is a suiseki that brings that scene to mind.

It is a stone that was dug out of the earth, a so-called "earth stone." Because it was not tumbled by the currents of the sea or a river, the surface was covered in earth rust. When that earth is carefully removed with a wire brush and similar tools, an expression like this one appears. We believe this stone emerged as the result of patiently removing the soil. The fine unevenness of its surface is very appealing. It looks like layers of strata, and one never tires of looking at it.

Please take a look at the stand as well. It is a carefully made, splendid stand, carved to match the unevenness of the underside of the stone. The workmanship is very fine. On the back of the stand, the characters "石舟" (Ishibune) are carved, meaning "stone boat." We thought it might be the title of the work, but since the back of a stand usually bears the name of its maker, we believe it is most likely the maker's name.

Regarding condition, one edge of the stone has a spot where a piece was chipped and later repaired with adhesive. We have marked it with a white circle in the detail photo, so please take a look.

It is small in size, yet very powerful. It is full of strength. It has the charm unique to limestone, with a deep and rich character. It is an elegant and pleasing shape.

Try to imagine where you might display it. Placed on a display shelf in an entryway, the rock face will welcome you when you come home. In front of a white wall, the silhouette of the rock stands out crisply. It would also look good at the edge of a study desk or on a living room sideboard. On a black iron stand or an old wooden table, the stone's strength is brought out even more. Though it is a small stone, it makes you feel as though a great rocky mountain stands before you. It is a stone you will find yourself wanting to gaze at at the end of the day.

We recommend this piece.

※Please note that the images displayed for this item include AI-generated display photos towards the end. The colors and actual size may differ from the images shown, so please consider them as illustrative images to help you visualize how the item would look in your interior.

Size: W14.3cm × D9cm × H19.7cm (overall size including the stand)
Weight: 1.9kg
Item No.: ST008

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