T'ien-huang stone miniature mountain

T'ien-huang stone miniature mountain

T'ien-huang ("field yellow") stone is famous throughout China. Not only favored among scholars, it was also treasured by successive emperors of the Ch'ing dynasty. In fact, there is a proverb that goes, "One or two pieces of t'ien-huang equal one or two pieces of gold". Rare and precious t'ien-huang stone was also greatly cherished and used for carving seals. This miniature mountain was rendered from a large piece of t'ien-huang stone, reflecting the grand manner of the Ch'ing imperial family.

Curling wisps of clouds were carved on this miniature mountain of t'ien-huang. Engraved on the stone itself are two lines of poetry that read, "Celebratory clouds soar to the verdant sky, scenes of good fortune pervading the pure mist", thus fully echoing their noble Ch'ing background.