Scholars rocks (供石) are naturally occurring rocks of interesting shapes which have been admired by Chinese scholars for centuries. They can be of any colour and also their size can be quite varied. There are rocks which weigh hundreds of kilos but there are also ‘Gongshi’ which weigh less that a pound. Scholars rocks are often seen in Chinese gardens and the best come from Lingbi in Anhui, from Lake Tai in Jiangsu Province and from Yingde in Guangdong. Of particular interest are those which resemble animals or human beings. This modern stone rock, dating from the 20th century, is a small one which resembles a mountain peak. In fact the material is wood of millions of years old which turned into stone. The stand is made of ebony. Height without stand 10.2 cm. Width 3.9 cm.