A malachite rock specimen with intense green and black colors fitted on a wood stand. The gemstone in the botryoidal form was polished in all sides except one side with a fissure to reveal the beautiful swirling patterns and colors. It is displayed as a viewing stone on a fitted wood base by an American collector of Chinese scholar rocks. Known as "Peacock Rock" in Chinese, there was a more recent tradition in China (from Qing Dynasty and on) to collect the exotic gemstones such as malachite and turquoise specimen and place them in the study as the viewing stones. It was believed that it has power to bless the family and ward off evils.
Under the base, it was signed as shown indicated the collector's name and the time it entered the collection (when the base was made).Height: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Width: 7 in (17.78 cm)Depth: 3.2 in (8.13 cm)