Chinese Gongshi or Scholar's Rock, Based

Somebody looked at a rock and decided it deserved furniture.

This gongshi, or scholar's rock, is stone from China, of indeterminate age. Chinese scholars displayed such stones in their studios as objects of contemplation, small stand-ins for mountains and for the slow work of nature. This one is smooth and rounded, shouldered like a jar and banded in soft gray and khaki. Its base is carved as looped, knotted rope with a bow at the center. Height is 16.5 inches, width 12.75.

Its job is to sit there. It does the job well.