清 太湖石

vertically oriented, the highly resonant sounding pale gray stone pierced with large circular openings creating crevasses and overhangs, the wrinkled surface resembling the skin of an elephant, fitted into a large stone planter base carved in low relief with scrolling legs on the side and draped by a triangular cloth

Taihu rocks of this monumental size are extremely rare, and the current piece is remarkable for its striking appearance and natural reticulation. For a smaller example of comparable quality, see the Taihu rock from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection, sold in these rooms, 8th April 2010, lot 1705.

Lake Tai stones are produced in the waters off Mount Dongting in Suzhou. The best stones are found at the bottom of Xiaoxia Bay off the mountains west of Lake Tai. The extraction of Lake Tai stones began during the Tang dynasty, and in the Northern Song dynasty, Emperor Huizong is recorded as collecting scholar's rocks from all over the empire to construct the Genyue Garden, with the result that the supply of Lake Tai stones was gradually exhausted. By the late Ming dynasty, it was even more difficult to find high quality Lake Tai stones that were naturally produced in the watery environment of the lake. Replacing such high-quality Lake Tai stones were land-formed Lake Tai stones found at the foot of Mt. Dongting. With texture that was dull and heavy and colour that was confused, such substitutes gradually strayed from the essential standards of quality stones.

Du Wan of the Song dynasty, in Yunlin shipu (Yunlin Stone Catalog), vol. 1, wrote the following about Lake Tai stones: "Produced in the waters off Mount Dongting.  These rocks are solid and glossy. They have strange shapes with interior spaces, see-through holes, curves and twists, and sheer rises. They are coloured white, bluish-black, and dark blue-green. As for the stone character, veins traverse every which way; a fine grain reveals itself on close inspection; and the surface has many depressions and small holes, caused by the action of wind and waves. Such depressions are called pellet cavities. When stricken, these stones produce a slight sound."

Wen Zhenheng (1585-1645), in his 'Taihu shi [Lake Tai stones]', Zhangwu zhi [On Superfluous Things], vol. 3, ruminated: "Lake Tai stones formed in the water are considered precious. Because the waves strike them for many years, they all develop holes and become exquisitely carved on all surfaces." "There are also small stones that have been submerged in the water for a long time. Fishermen bring them up in their nets. They resemble Lingbi stones and Yingde stones. However, the sound is not clear."