CHINESE CARVED SHOUSHAN STONE MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE

A Chinese carved Shoushan stone scholar's landscape, worked from a naturally multi-coloured stone and raised on its fitted hardwood stand.

The carving depicts a mountainous landscape with a scholar riding a donkey beneath pine and flowering branches, surrounded by rocky peaks and trees.

The scene appears to represent the traditional subject of Meng Haoran Riding a Donkey in Search of Plum Blossom (踏雪寻梅).

The carver has made particularly effective use of the natural colours of the stone. The pale cream and yellow areas form the mountain peaks, overhanging rocks and pine foliage, while the contrasting russet and reddish-brown areas have been used for the mounted figure, flowering branches and parts of the landscape.

The composition recalls the traditional Chinese subject of a scholar travelling through a mountain landscape in search of plum blossom, often associated with the poet Meng Haoran.

The reverse has been largely left in its natural boulder form, showing the contrasting colours and character of the original stone.

The carving is accompanied by a fitted dark hardwood display stand and a presentation box.

20th century.

Dimensions:

Width: approx. 12.5 cm

Overall height including stand: approx. 16 cm

Maximum thickness of stone: approx. 5 cm

Condition:

Good overall condition.

There is a small loss to one of the carved flowering branches at the side, glued, as shown in the photographs. Otherwise there are no obvious major chips or losses noted.

Some natural inclusions, colour variations and surface characteristics are present within the stone.

Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description.