Page 12 - Christie's Dec 2, 2015 Scholars Rocks, Hong Kong
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The most prized scholar’s rocks are of limestone 石灰 plants (Lot 3007), scudding clouds (Lot 3005),
石 so densely structured that it is capable of emitting and even human figures (Lots 3003, 3011, 3020).
a bell-like ring when struck (Lots 3003, 3005, Depending upon the natural markings, rare stones
3010, 3017), a feature emphasized by traditional suggest white-capped peaks or a mountain chain
connoisseurs. In color, scholar’s rocks range from blanketed in newly fallen snow (Lot 3023). A few of
white to grey to black; the most prized are the the mountainscapes recall specific peaks but most
black stones from Lingbi 靈璧 , in northern Anhui represent imaginary mountains, a small number
province (Lots 3003, 3005, 3010, 3017) and the recalling the Isles of the Immortals—the legendary
slate grey stones from Yingde 英德 , in north central Penglai 蓬萊 , Fanghu 方壺 , and Yingzhou 瀛洲 ,
Guangdong province (Lots 3001, 3002, 3004, 3009, believed to rise in the Eastern Sea, opposite the
3011, 3020, 3022). Taihu stones 太湖石 , the most coast of Jiangsu province. Those who seek meanings
favored among garden rocks, occasionally were in a rock’s form or embellishment often interpret the
placed on stands and introduced into the scholar’s perforations that enhance many rocks and the flat
studio (Lot 3021). In Ming and Qing times, other tops with cantilevered overhangs that crown others
limestones (Lots 3016, 3019, 3023), marble 大理石 , as the abodes of the immortals.
malachite 孔雀石 , and turquoise 綠松石 also came
to figure among the rocks destined for the studio, More than anything else, however, it was the abstract,
as did yellow wax stone 黃蠟石 (Lot 3018). A variety formal qualities of the rocks that appealed to the
of colorful soapstones attests to the growing love Chinese literati; in that light, the taste for rocks finds
of color that found expression in all the arts of later kinship in the taste for calligraphy. By extension,
dynastic China. Articles made of wood or root (Lots such collected Chinese stones might be compared
3007, 3008), petrified wood 木化石 or petrified to modern abstract art, particularly to sculptures by
bamboo 竹化石 , and even of dry lacquer 乾漆 (Lot Constantin Brancusi (Romanian; 1876–1957), Henry
3014) and shaped to resemble scholar’s rocks found Moore (English; 1898–1986), and Alberto Giacometti
a following among Ming and Qing scholars. (Italian-Swiss; 1901–1966). Although one can read
meaning into both scholar’s rocks and modern abstract
Beginning in the Song dynasty, Chinese painters art, each ultimately is appreciated for the beauty of its
often pictured exceptionally beautiful rocks in their form, color, and texture. In rocks, connoisseurs typically
paintings—typically garden rocks but occasionally admire such qualities as attenuated proportions
scholar’s rocks. By the Ming and Qing periods, such that recall soaring peaks, textured surfaces that
paintings often portray particular rocks and, at least suggest great age, forceful profiles that evoke the
in some instances, might be regarded as portraits of grandeur of nature, overlapping layers or planes that
prized stones, such as the paintings in this collection impart depth, and furrows, hollows, or perforations
by Lan Ying 藍瑛 (1585–1664) and Wang Yin 王寅 (also that create rhythmic, harmonious patterns. Many of
known as Wang Yemei 王冶梅 , c. 1832–after 1892) these characteristics also inform Chinese landscape
(Lots 3006, 3012, 3013). painting. In fact, Chinese literati paintings, or wenren
hua 文人畫 , and scholar’s rocks share a common
Like a landscape painting, the rock represented a vocabulary of form and subject matter, just as they
microcosm of the universe on which the scholar reflect kindred aesthetic and philosophical goals. In his
could meditate within the confines of garden or mid-19th-century Tanshi 談石 (Chats on Rocks), Liang
studio. Although most scholar’s rocks suggest Jiutu 梁九圖 stated that “In collecting, it is the choice
mountain landscapes (Lots 3016, 3019, 3023), jagged of rocks that comes first. If the rock does not seem like
peaks (Lot 3002), overhanging cliffs (Lot 3001), a painting by the powers of nature, then you shouldn’t
or layered peaks and mountaintop plateaus (Lots choose it.”
3017, 3018), others resemble dragons, phoenixes
(Lot 3004), animal heads (Lot 3014), blossoming Set in gardens in the Tang and Song dynasties—
10 BEYOND WHITE CLOUDS 出雲疊嶂 — 文人案頭賞石
