Ibigawa Stone, Cypress Stage, Kobayashi Soken Calligraphy Box, Viewing Stone, Suiseki, Bonseki, Wooden Base for Bonsai

This is an Ibi River stone that can also be seen as a Kabuki actor looking up at the sky on stage.

It comes with a box from Mr. Kobayashi Sōkan, director of the First Nihon Aiseki Kan (Japan Stone Appreciation Hall) and a cultural figure of the Showa era.

(The memorial record Ishi no Kokoro (The Heart of Stone) shown as a reference image is not part of the product. Cultural figures such as Seishi Yamaguchi, Tōkurō Katō, and Shiko Munakata also contributed memorial texts.)

Dimensions are 27cm x 21.5cm x 11cm. The weight is 6260g (including the base).

On the back of the box lid, it reads:

雅石居 (Gaseki-kyo)
宗閑 (Sōkan) Kao [Fujikuji-jō? Kao related to Tōkurō Katō Fujikuro?]

There appear to be three styles of calligraphy: that of his wife, his own, and the box maker's. His wife's calligraphy is elegant, and the box maker's is a practiced style. This appears to be his wife's writing, with a softer style. The kao on the front of the box is identical to other Sōkan氏's.

This is a one-of-a-kind, cultural property-grade masterpiece, but I am listing it for sale as I am organizing my collection and wish to pass it on to someone else. Please understand that the box has signs of age-related deterioration.

The actual color may differ slightly from the product due to photography (amateur smartphone photography).

Please forgive any slight errors due to amateur measurements.

?? Please make your purchase based on your own judgment after reviewing the images.

?? Please note that recycled materials will be used for packaging.

?? If old stones or bases have been remade, there may be some age-related deterioration such as scratches or scuffs.

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