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Sam & KJ's Suiseki Blog (水石)

Sam & KJ's Suiseki Blog (水石)

Monthly Archives: April 2017

Yayoijin – The Last Day of Spring

14 Friday Apr 2017

Posted by Sam Edge in Furuya Stone, Suiseki, Viewing Stones

≈ 2 Comments

In late 2016 an opportunity arose to acquire several nice stones from a collection in Japan.  What made these two stones special was knowing the prior owners and the provenance of the stones.  The first stone we present has the formal name of “Yayoijin” which directly translated means the last day of the third month of the lunar calendar. The more poetic meaning is – the last day of spring.

IMG_0010-20

Yayoijin – Furuya Mountain Stone – 14cm x 7.5cm x 4cm

The word yayoijin is used in haiku poetry, and in the case of the stone it likely refers to the find thread waterfalls, in which the final melt off of the once snow covered peaks.

This is a small stone at only 14cm wide (5.5 inches) but it has great character, movement and lovely thread waterfalls.  It has ideal “shun” – surface texture that the great Furuya stones have.

Provenance

IMG_0009-20

Inscribed by Tanimoto Hyakusui

This stone was once owned by Tanimoto Kyakusui who was a great authority on Furya stones from Wakayama back before the stone boom (1960s).  He was a stone dealer, and inscribed most of his boxes, and was also a daiza carver. In this case, the daiza was not carved by him but by a different person.  A side note is that Tanimoto was Koju Suzuki’s teacher for daiza making.

L1090346

Fune (Boat)

The daiza was carved by a person using the “Fune” mark which translated means boat.  All we currently know about him was he was one of the top daiza carvers in the Tanabe aera from the 1960s-1980s.

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The back of the box has text that we have not had translated as of yet. It also includes at least three seals. One we recognize as that of Sugii Chugi from Kyoto. Sugii had an incredible collection of stones and we are very pleased this one came from his personal collection.  At the end of Sugii’s life his collection was sold and this stone passed into the hands of Matsurra Arishige, the past president of the Japan Suiseki Association.  We hope to have the back side of the lid of the kiri-bako translated at some point. Help anyone?

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Sugii’s Stamp and Box Number

From the left side of the box, we see Sugii’s stamp and his acquisition number of 421.  This is a relatively early addition to his collection as we have seen other box numbers 2900 and higher.  As we mentioned, Sugii had an extensive collection.

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Matsuura’s Seals

Now that we are temporary owners of this wonderful stone, we wanted to share it with you so that its beauty can be seen beyond those that have had the opportunity to hold and cherish it.

More to come…

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Viewing Stone Auctions

10 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by Sam Edge in China, Suiskei, Viewing Stones

≈ 1 Comment

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Auction

As collectors of stones from numerous countries and followers of the antiquity market, we often review serious auctions of fine viewing stones.  Today’s post covers auctions that were held in Hong Kong, London and New York some time back.  We hope that it encourages us to document our stones as we spoke of in one of our more recent blog posts.

As with any art market, there is a tremendous latitude in pricing.  If you follow the Early American furniture market, you can be surprised, if not shocked, at the variability in prices for furniture.

In October, 2007, at a piecrust-top mahogany tea table, circa 1760, attributed to the “Garvan” carver of Philadelphia, sold for $6.76 million at Christie’s Oct. 3 sale and this doesn’t include the buyer’s premium.

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We know what you are thinking, we’ve seen similar tea-tables with a single comma in their price.  Why is this one so expensive?

The craftsman credited with the design of the table is considered the most accomplished carver working in Philadelphia in the 1750s and early 1760s and is known for a boldness and vigor in his carving. He is known solely by the body of surviving furniture bearing his distinctive hand. A tea table attributed to the Garvan carver is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

So craftsmanship, beauty and provenance sent this piece with an original estimate of $2-3 million to nearly $7 million.  A bit too lofty for most of us I’m afraid.

So back to stones, as many of us have collected stones, or purchased them, what long-term aspirations do we have for them.  We personally have 3 stones collected by Mas Nakajima, a highly influential suiseki collector from the West Coast, and for us personally this added great value to these stones.  Not just because they were beautiful, but also because Mas found great value in them and most importantly because he personally collected them.

Edge - Japan Suiseki - 2017 Show

A beautiful Black Butte stone collected by Mas Nakajima and gifted to us.  We subsequently hired Jerry Braswell to craft a rosewood daiza for it and we believe he did an excellent job.  It was accepted and shown in the 4th Japan Suiseki Exhibition held February 10-13, 2017 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.

I hope you see where we are going with this lengthy description. From Mas’ wonderfully talented eye in collecting the stone, to a well matched rosewood daiza to accompany it, to being selected for display at one of the world’s most prestigious stone shows.  Keeping this documented for its future owners we believe adds value to the stone as well as making it even more collectible as an art object.

We hope you don’t take these past few paragraphs as some way of saying look at our collection, we simply don’t mean nor intend for it to be that.  We are just passionate that we as collectors document objects in our collections for future generations.

Recently, we were fortunate to collect two well documented stones from Japan.  These will be the topic of a future post; however, for today we would like to share with you some stones sold in a Sotheby’s.

Sotheby’s Auction of Fine Chinese Ceramic and Works of Art

So lets’ take a few moments to share with you a number of works of art that sold during this auction.

Lot-530

A Small Porcelain Scholar’s Rock
9cm

This nationalistically molded porcelain scholar’s rock molded in the form of a craggy rock of irregular outline and deep undulating fissures, the porcelain a dark color with a fitted wood stand.  The estimate was $800-1,200 USD and it sold for $12,500 USD.

When first observing this object, we remarked that it had a beautiful patina for a stone. Only until we read the caption did we discover this is in reality a porcelain representation as a stone.  Very well done wouldn’t you say.

 

Lot-186
A Lingbi Scholar’s rock with inscription
30.5cm

In the shape of a mountain peak, of a silky smooth surface and pewter gray in color, with holes penetrating the crags, inscription carved onto small areas of the rock: Li da zhen wan (the favorable precious gift) and Shi Hanzi kuiwei nian, Sanlink zhi shi (the stone replaced at Sanlin, the guiwei year of Shi Hanzi) with wooden stand.  Estimate $8,000 – 12,000 USD.

Lot-121

A Zitan Qing Dynasty, 18th Century
11.5 cm

Naturalistically modeled in the form of a mountain with steep crests, small pits and crevasses, inscribed to the base with four characters reading Xinghua shanguan, the wood of a rich dark chocolate-brown tone with a matt finish.  Estimate 3,000-5,000 GBP and sold at 5,250 GBP.

Lot-228

A Yellow Wax Stone Scholar’s Rock Qing Dynasty, 19th/19th Century
17.2 cm

A yellow wax stone in horizontal orientation, naturalistically modeled with pits, deep crevasses and perforations, the textured stone of an orange-yellow tone with a matte finish, wood stand.  Sold for 3,750 GBP.

Lot-380

A Large Huanglashi Scholars’ Rock
40.6 cm

A Huanglashi Scholars’ rock with a narrow foot rising to a cloud-like plume, filled with perforations of various sizes, the stone of ivory color with caramel and crystalline inclusions, with a wood stand.  Estimate $6,000-8,000 USD and sold for $6,250 USD.

Lot-454A Qilian Scholar’s Rock
44.5 cm

A Qilian Scholars’ rock of flattened form, the outline resembling two peaks with an overhang, the ‘eyes’ imparting a sense of lightness to the furrowed undulating surfaces, northern style wood stand.  Estimate $6,000-8,000 and sold for $6,250.

Lot-455
A Yellow Wax Scholars’ Rock”
62.8 cm

Lot-455b

A Yellow Wax Scholars Rock with a weathered surface enlivened with rhythmically spaced hollows imparting a feeling of lightness, the profile resembling a swooping eagle, the mustard-yellow rock with some orange inclusions and waxy appearance.   Provenance: Ian and Susan Wilson, San Francisco, CA, USA. Literature: Nicholas Grindley The Ian and Susan Wilson Collection of Chinese Scholars Rocks, London, 2009, no 61. Estimate $10,000-12,000 and sold for $18,750 USD.

An exquisite stone by very well known collectors.  The texture, patina and stand are all superb.

Recent Posts

  • Final Mas Nakajima Suiseki Group for Sale December 6, 2021
  • Mas Nakajima’s Suiseki for Sale April 1, 2021
  • Edge Artworks Launches… May 2, 2019
  • “She Just Needed To Be Who She Really Was.” February 12, 2019
  • Su Shi (蘇軾) – Chinese Poet December 11, 2018
  • Kokan Shiren (虎関師錬), 1278–1347) October 31, 2018
  • The Book of Tea, Part III October 22, 2018
  • The Book of Tea, Part II October 20, 2018
  • The Book of Tea, Part I October 18, 2018
  • Tanimoto’s stone “Ryozan” October 11, 2018
  • A Older Japanese Boat Stone October 8, 2018
  • Tsukiji Market, an 83-Year-Old Tokyo Icon, Set to Close October 4, 2018
  • Suiseki Stones for Sale July 23, 2018
  • Larry Ragle’s Buffalo Stone March 21, 2018
  • Viewing Stones for Sale March 14, 2018
  • The annual Viewing Stones Show presented by the California Aiseki Kai December 18, 2017
  • In Search of a Stone September 24, 2017
  • Shoshuhei a Kamuikotan-ishi Stone July 21, 2017
  • Yayoijin – The Last Day of Spring April 14, 2017
  • Viewing Stone Auctions April 10, 2017
  • Updated Catalog & Facebook February 1, 2017
  • Stone and Stories; Creating Provenance January 23, 2017
  • Bonsai Pot Collection Sales Catalog December 2, 2016
  • David Goscinksi’s New Stone Site October 26, 2016
  • Kiri-bako for your collectibles October 6, 2016
  • Kan Yasuda | Touching Time March 10, 2016
  • NHK World On Demand Videos – Suiseki & Tea Ceremony January 21, 2016
  • Private Collections – Hidden from View January 7, 2016
  • Collections – Being Purposeful December 8, 2015
  • Suzuki Koji November 19, 2015
  • An Old Suiseki from the Kamogawa December 17, 2014
  • Japanese Aesthetics and Suiseki June 18, 2014
  • Shiokai Kenji Pots – Kaohsiung Koha or Takao-koyo March 27, 2014
  • Classical Bonsai Art March 25, 2014
  • Spirit Stones, The Ancient Art of Scholar’s Rocks November 17, 2013
  • Suiseki For Sale by David & Jeff October 27, 2013
  • North American Viewing Stones October 11, 2013
  • California Suiseki Society July 8, 2013
  • Bonsai Professional Peter Tea June 1, 2013
  • Miyazaki Isseki March 19, 2013
  • Richard Rosenblum Collection March 4, 2013
  • Tables – Outstanding Craftsmen from Japan February 17, 2013
  • Katsuragi Kozan — Table Craftsman February 15, 2013
  • The Green Club 2013 February 13, 2013
  • Furuya Stones February 4, 2013
  • The Suiseki Art of Mas Nakajima January 27, 2013
  • Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit of Fine Bonsai 2013 January 22, 2013
  • Bay Island Bonsai – 2013 Exhibit January 17, 2013
  • Bunzan Pots – A Few More January 14, 2013
  • Ichiyo Bonsai Pots January 7, 2013

Blogroll

  • Aichi-en Journal by Peter Tea
  • Aiseki Magazine
  • Art of the Daiza
  • Bonsai Boon
  • Bonsai in Japan
  • Bonsai Network Japan
  • Bonsai Tonight
  • Bonsai Tree Care
  • Bunjin Journal
  • California Aiseki Kai
  • Dan Barton Bonsai Pots
  • Natural Bonsai
  • Nichigo Bonsai
  • Nippon Suiseki Association
  • Peter Tea Bonsai
  • San Francisco Suiseki Kai
  • Suiseki Art
  • Tyler Sherrod Bonsai
  • Viewing Stone Association of North America
  • WordPress.com
  • WordPress.org

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