A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE LINGBI SCHOLARS ROCK, QING DYNASTY

A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE LINGBI SCHOLAR'S ROCK, QING DYNASTY
Expert's note
: Ranked first among the four types of famous Chinese Scholar's Rocks, Lingbi are mostly carved from calcite and other ancient types of limestone. They originate from Lingbi county in Anhui Province and are fine-grained and delicately textured, found lying deep in the red mud of the Qingshi mountains. Naturally shaped, they need almost no cutting or carving. Depleted after generations of mining, high-quality Lingbi are now very rare. Their mineral composition is such that they produce a metallic, distinct sound when tapped. Hence they are also called 'resonant rocks' (bayinshi). Combining masculine beauty with antique simplicity, Lingbi have been admired by connoisseurs for centuries. In the Northern Song dynasty, Emperor Huizong wrote about a Lingbi in his collection: “The mountain is high while the moon looks small, the water ebbs and the rock juts forth.”
China, 1644-1912. The perforated vertical rock is evocative of the sinuous body of a dragon, with protrusions and deep crevasses as well as reticulation. The porous stone is of a distinct dark gray tone with russet patches, suffused by white veins.
Provenance
: From a noted estate in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Condition
: Very good condition with minor old wear, few natural cracks, irregularities and inclusions, small nicks here and there, and light surface scratches. Splendid natural patina overall.
Weight: 7,658 g (excl. stand), 8,499 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 58.4 cm (excl. stand), 69.5 cm (incl. stand)
With a lacquered wood stand. (2)
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 24 September 2021, lot 1007
Price: USD 62,500 or approx.
EUR 68,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A lingbi scholar's rock
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and similar stand. Note the size (44.5 cm).
清代大型靈璧石
中國，1644-1912年。依靈璧石的天然造型而成，造型奇巧，體態夭矯，肖形狀物，妙趣天成。深灰色調，帶有赤褐色的斑塊，泛著白色的紋理。
專家注釋：
靈璧石位居中國四大名岩之首，原產於安徽省靈璧縣，質地細膩，自然成型。歷經幾代開採，優質靈璧已稀少。有的靈璧石在敲擊時會產生金屬的、獨特的聲音。因此，它們也被稱為“八音石”。靈璧兼具陽剛之美和古樸質感，幾個世紀以來一直為鑑賞家所推崇。北宋徽宗在《靈璧》中寫道：“山高月小，水落石出”。
來源：
美國伊利諾斯州芝加哥私人舊藏。
品相：
狀況極好，有輕微的磨損，輕微天然裂縫、不規則和夾雜物、到處都是小刻痕，以及輕微的表面劃痕。整體呈現出絢麗的自然光澤。
重量：7,658 克 (不含底座)，8,499 克 (含底座)
尺寸：高58.4 厘米 (不含底座)，69.5 厘米 (含底座)
漆木底座。
拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2021年9月24日，lot 1007
價格：USD 62,500（相當於今日
EUR 68,500
）
描述：靈璧賞石
專家評論：比較非常相近外型和相似的木底座。請注意尺寸(44.5 厘米)。