Page 52 - BSAM 2018 Q4

Top: The dramatic shape seems more like a Chinese Karst landscape than a typical Japanese mountain scene. The stone itself is 11 cm wide, 14.5 cm high and 8.3 cm deep. The base was made by a hobbyist.
Bottom: An impressive steep mountain range that was displayed at the California Golden State Bonsai convention in 2013. It is 25 cm wide, 11 cm high and 9 cm deep.
against commoners collecting Furuya stones ended in 1871. Hekisai, a medical doctor, began collecting these stones at the age of 46 and continued until late in his life. He assembled approximately 1,000 of these stones. Hekisai obtained a copy of the Chinese stone catalog, Jimei Shipu, produced by the Chinese artist Wang Jimei that was first published in Osaka, Japan. Impressed with Wang’s catalog, Hekisai began to work on his own stone catalog. Hekisai asked Wang Jimei to write a preface or title to his new book. In 1894, the Hekisai Stone Catalog was published and became then and remains today, an essential reference in Japanese suiseki stone culture
Furuya stones as important suiseki obtained another vital boost with the publication of Tanimoto and Murata’s book Furuya Famous Stones in 1969. Tanimoto lived in Tanabe in Wakayama and became well known as a highly skilled base carver and dealer in Furuya stones. To date, Furuya Famous Stones is still the leading reference for these stones. Beautiful and impressive Furuya stones are displayed in every major exhibition of stones held in Tokyo, including Meihenten and the newer All Japan Suiseki Exhibition.
For more information on Furuya stones: Suiseki- II, An Art Created by Nature by Sen-En-Kyo, 2007; Furuya Famous Stones, Comprehensive Illustrations by Tanimoto & Murata, 1969; and Hekisai Stone Catalog by Mera Hekisai (1894).
All stones are from the collection of Tom Elias & Hiromi Nakaoji. To learn more about viewing stones from
all over the world and to read more articles on stone appreciation, visit www.vsana.org.
50 | BCI | October/November/December 2018