Beschreibung:

China Chinese rock landscapes have a quiet elegance that draws the viewer into a world of tranquility and natural harmony. They embody the Chinese concept of penjing, meaning natural scenery, deeply rooted in the country's art theory which evolved over a time period exceeding a thousand years. China has a great deal of mountainous terrain—and these "miniature landscapes" evoke the Chinese fondness for both the rich landscape of their country and for the mineral kingdom. In present day China, as many as 30 different types of rock are used for the creation of penjing. The artist allows the raw material and its inherent properties, such as striations and contours, to guide him in its shaping and placement on the stand. Some convey a sense of infinity, others consisting of oddly-shaped stones, are suggestive of animated spirits, dragons or other creatures. While larger rocks can be displayed in a garden setting, smaller stones have been brought indoors and placed on rosewood stands, to grace a table in a scholar's study and serve as inspiration for meditation. The term for this form of rock appreciation is suiseki (actually a Japanese term) and it has been an integral part of China's literati culture for over a thousand years. Throughout the ages, rocks have been venerated in China for a number of reasons either due to their shape, color, luster, or to the exquisite sound they emit when struck. Usually those rocks with weathered or eroded surfaces and attractive grain have been the most prized. A stalactite is an icicle-shaped mass of calcite attached to the roof of a limestone cavern. Groundwater trickling through cracks in the roofs of such caverns contains dissolved calcium bicarbonate. When a drop of water comes in contact with the air of the cavern, some of the calcium bicarbonate is transformed into calcium carbonate, which is precipitated out of the water solution and forms a ring of calcite on the roof of the cavern. By repetition of this process the length and thickness of the stalactite is increased. A stalagmite is a cone of calcite rising from the floor of a cavern. Stalagmites and stalactites are often found in pairs, the stalagmite being formed as a result of further evaporation and precipitation from solution after the trickle of water falls A stalactite of textbook form, exhibiting a classic icicle-shaped deposition of calcite and having an ivory-cream color as well as a glassy or smooth surface texture and tiered formation, the result of the constant dripping of mineral-rich water from the ceilings of caverns. Measures 27 x 10 x 10 in