Photo of collection object Rock Mountain
Rock Mountain, 17th-18th century. Steatite with dark wood stand, 15 3/4 x 10 x 7 in. (40 x 25.4 x 17.8 cm) Height with stand: 17 3/4 in. (45.1 cm). Designated Purchase Fund, 86.5. Creative Commons-BY.

Rock Mountain

17th-18th century

Maker Unknown

Asian Art

Since antiquity, Chinese intellectuals have sought solace and inspiration in nature. Because routine obligations kept most scholars from taking daily hikes through the wilderness, many collected objects that could evoke, from home, the grandeur and spirituality of the mountains. Unusually shaped rocks, eroded by the elements and sometimes enhanced by human hands, were a popular addition to desks and gardens. One could imagine oneself as a tiny traveler wandering over the rugged terrain of the rocks’ surfaces and up to their remote peaks.
Maker/Artist
Maker Unknown
Classification
Sculpture
Formatted Medium
Steatite with dark wood stand
Locations
Place made: China
Dimensions
15 3/4 x 10 x 7 in. (40 x 25.4 x 17.8 cm) Height with stand: 17 3/4 in. (45.1 cm)
Departments
Asian Art
Accession Number
86.5
Credit Line
Designated Purchase Fund
Rights Statement
Creative Commons-BY
Dominant Colors

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