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Landscape

石雕山水人物山子

1644–1911

China, Qing dynasty

(1644-1911)
Medium
soapstone
Measurements
Overall: 15.3 x 22.3 x 9.6 cm (6 x 8 3/4 x 3 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Worcester R. Warner Collection 1917.25
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

A waterfall plummets down the cliff by the temple and then flows smoothly down to join the river at the front of the landscape scene.

Description

A mountain scenery surrounded by water and fish is meticulously carved out of soapstone, with a pond, bridge, waterfall, and temple front in its center. The unidentified figure scene on the left includes an ox and a man wearing what appears to be a Korean hat. A Buddha figure hidden in the depth of the temple can be glimpsed from the backside. The inscribed pillar on the right reads “Stonegate Cave to Heaven (shimen dongtian)”. Indentations all over the stone suggest that the miniature mountain was once adorned with precious stones and metal, presumably representing an earthly paradise to which one could escape in one’s mind and imagination.
A soapstone carving depicts a mountain landscape in shades of reddish-brown, tan, and pale green. Intricate undercuts create deep shadows among dense, gnarled trees and craggy peaks. On our left, tiny figures stand within the foliage, while a two-story tiled building sits centrally. To our right, a smaller structure perches on a jagged cliff. At the base, incised swirling lines represent water, anchoring the highly detailed, layered composition.

Landscape

1644–1911

China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

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