"Celestial Quarry" Lingbi Scholars' Rock

Sculptural and unusual stone formations have long been fixtures of the scholars' studio, displayed as sources of beauty and creative inspiration. Known as gongshi, or scholars' rocks, each stone is selected for the aesthetic criteria of thinness (瘦 shòu), perforations (漏 lòu), openness (透 tòu) and wrinkling (皺 zhòu). Meditating on the stone’s intriguing, suggestive form, the scholar found inspiration in the textured surface as a microcosm of the universe.

Gracefully balanced on a custom steel base, the unique contours of this lingbi stone inspires imagery of celestial bodies or deep canyons worn smooth by patient waters. Prized for their density and dark gray tones, lingbi stones form with intriguing negative spaces and have a naturally polished look that accentuates the stone's expressive veining.