Chinese Gongshi Landscape Crystal on Hardwood Base

A gray mountain range runs along the bottom of a cloudy white stone, mist included.

This gongshi landscape crystal on hardwood base comes from China, in crystal. Stones whose markings resemble painted landscapes have long been prized by Chinese scholars, who read mountains, rivers and weather into the patterns. This long, low piece is milky white and translucent above, with cream and gray streaks drifting like cloud. Along the lower half, a dark gray band rises and dips like a ridge of hills. A polished dark hardwood stand follows its curved outline on small bracket feet. It is 21 inches wide, 6.5 deep and 8 high.

A landscape painting that nobody had to paint.