Chinese Gongshi or Spirit Stone

Geology, doing its impression of a floating city.

This gongshi, or spirit stone, is Wuling stone from Hunan Province, China, on a hardwood base. Its age is indeterminate. Chinese scholars displayed such stones on fitted bases in their studios, where they served as imagined mountains, clouds and islands to contemplate. Three thin grey shelves lie stacked here, joined by small pillars and pierced with round windows, their long edges tapering to points. The dark base below is slim and straight, with scrolled feet. Just over twenty inches wide.

Zoning has never been a concern.