Page 38 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2017Q1

Figure 8: This landscape
stone has nice flow with
many elements worth
more than a passing look.
It is reminiscent of some of
the sandstone formations
of the southwestern United
States. Stone measures 24 x
4 x 7 cm. and is displayed in
a bronze doban.

of mountainous terrain (figures 2, 7 and 8). Many
stones feature crevices and caves, so it is easy to
take an imaginary hike or recreate a memory of a
family vacation. Many of the petrified landscape
stones remind one of the rock structures in Utah and
Arizona and other parts of the southwestern United
States (figure 8, 9 and 10). The presence of quartz and
chalcedony in the stone often creates waterfall like
appearances (figure 4). Some of the stones take on
the appearance of the great spires and inspirational
steeples of great cathedrals of Europe. (Figure 5 and
6) Surprisingly enough, many of the collected pieces
make very outstanding figure stones, resembling
human or animal forms (Figure 11). It is easy to see
why petrified stones are gaining popularity among
stone enthusiast.
Petrified wood displays attractively; whether, in a
wooden base (daiza) or in a tray (suiban or doban). The
multiple colors of petrified wood create many options
in matching to the appropriate suiban. Many pieces
are artistically and dynamically sculpted by nature to
stand alone as a viewing stone. Other pieces are more
subdued and quiet and would serve beautifully as an
accent to bonsai. I’ve observed in displaying stones,
people are often drawn to beauty and the form of the
petrified wood first.
One of the most important criteria for proper
viewing stones is that the stone structure not be soft
or flaky, but rather solid and hard enough to pass from
generation to generation. Petrified wood meets that
criteria. Daniels and Dayvault note, “Most petrified
wood is available to collectors because it is harder than
the sedimentary rocks from which it weathers, thereby
leaving lag deposits on the ground surface.”

Middle; Figure 9: This small stone, (5 x 5 x 10 cm.), reminds
one of the solitary cylinder of rock against the backdrop of
the setting sun.
Bottom; Figure 10: This landscape stone is very
southwestern United States, resembling areas of the high
desert, (11 x 5 x 5 cm.).
36 | BCI | January/February/March 2017