NEW YORK.- The mysterious world of scholars’ rocks will be delicately entered when the Niliuzhai Collection of Classical Chinese Rocks will be offered as part of Christie’s sale of Fine Chinese Archaic Bronzes, Ceramics and Works of Art on September 20.  This important collection of sixty rocks presents a concise history of China’s most intriguing sculptures.



The practice of collecting scholars’ rock was initiated during the Song dynasty (960-1279) when the Chinese literati discovered the aesthetic and spiritual qualities of rocks and began to display them in the intimate atmosphere of their studios.  Rocks are divided into two categories: the true ‘scholars’ rocks’ for which the subtly Chinese translation is spirit rocks, and the garden rocks.  Scholars’ rocks would be kept indoors, in the intimacy of a studio, and would serve as a source for meditation, inspiration, guidance and enlightenment.  The garden rocks, very often carrying a strong resemblance to a series of mountain peaks, would be installed outdoors to be admired and contemplated by anyone who would prefer a solitary walk in the seclusion provided by nature.  In both cases, the rocks would symbolize a miniature universe and the selection of a rock would be a highly personal affair.  Natural aspects such as shape, color, texture and material play a crucial role but carving techniques would also be applied in order to enhance these characteristics. 



Although firmly rooted in another epoch and culture, scholars’ rocks possess a quality not unlike what can be found in Western abstract art.  Ultimately, in the field of scholars’ rocks as well as that of abstract art, it is the deeply personal appreciation of forms and colors in an unconditioned setting that evokes meaning for the viewer.  The beauty and the message are fruits of the mind of the beholder and it was precisely this abstract element that attracted the Chinese literati centuries ago. 



Although ancient in look and feel, scholars’ rocks are at the same time supreme avant-garde pieces that encompass exactly those evocative powers and aesthetic conditions that 20th century sculptors would try to capture and express. 



The Niliuzhai collection features both scholars’ rocks and garden rocks and offers beautiful examples of both.  Two impressive Taihu garden rocks are great illustrations of the elements sought after by the Chinese when choosing a garden rock.  Usually composed of limestone, Taihu rocks tend to be light grey or off-white and their perforations distinguish them from studio rocks (estimate: $50,00-60,000 each).



Lingbi rocks have been the most favored studio rocks since the Northern Song period (960-1127) and the Niliuzhai collection offers several examples.  Because of their high density they often have a natural resonance while the light texture makes their surfaces appear almost moist.  The slightly glossy surfaces create a very smooth appearance that even enhances the sculptural look of these rocks, perfectly illustrated by a massive ‘male lion’ lingbi rock on a wood pedestal (estimate: $4,000-6,000).



Greenish-bluish or brownish-greyish reflections are often connected with Ying rocks, fine-grained limestone rocks praised for their intricately textured surfaces.  A stunning example offered in the sale displays a richly dimpled surface and a strong horizontal movement at the top of the rock that is particularly powerful (estimate: $6,000-8,000).



Being attributes of the scholar’s studio, scholars’ rocks would sometimes take on ‘desk top’ functions when used as inkstands or censers.  The sale features a grey-green lingbi mountain-form rock that is perfectly shaped as a brush-rest, without losing its playful sculptural qualities (estimate: $2,500-3,500).



Besides actual stones, wood boulders are also part of the scholars’ rock tradition and the Niliuzhai collection presents some extremely expressive examples of these wood sculptures.