Ibi River Stone, named "Hat", viewing stone, suiseki, cultural property grade, with inscription by Kobayashi Soken, signed base

This is an Ibi River stone shaped like a hat.

It comes with a box and a Sho Yu An pedestal from Mr. Kobayashi Soken, director of the First Nihon Aiseki Kan (Japan Love Stone Museum) and a cultural figure of the Showa era. (The memorial publication Ishi no Kokoro (The Heart of Stone) shown as a reference image is not included in the product. Cultural figures such as Seishi Yamaguchi, Tokuro Kato, and Shiko Munakata also contributed memorial texts.)

Dimensions are 8.5cm x 7.5cm x 4.5cm. The weight is 335g (including the wooden pedestal).

On the inside of the box lid, it reads:

Hito no yuku / Ura ni michi ari / Hana no yama
(People go / On the back path there is a way / To the mountain of flowers)
Right old poem title: Gaseki-kyo Soken Seal [宗]

Hito no yuku / Ura ni michi ari / Hana no yama is an old poem by Sen no Rikyu, Hito no yuku / Ura ni michi ari / Hana no yama, / Izure o iku mo / Chirazu ma ni ike no ue no ku which means If you truly want to enjoy the flowers, you should take the back path where people don't go, and whether you take the front path or the back path, you must go while the flowers are still blooming. In recent years, it seems to be often used as a proverb in stock market trading.

On the back of the box, it reads Gaseki-kyo Soken

Hinoto Hitsuji (Showa 42) New Year's
Gift to Mr. Ishiguro

It is believed that this stone was sent by Soken to Mr. Ishiguro in Showa 42 (1967).

The box size is exactly the same as the Abe River stone's outer dimensions. (It is not a mass-produced item as the way the box is assembled is different.)

Mr. Kobayashi Soken and Mr. Komori Soken are often confused, but Mr. Kobayashi was the director of the First Nihon Aiseki Kan, and Mr. Komori was the second-generation director. (Reference image: from the memorial publication Ishi no Kokoro)

There seem to be three types 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 also a practiced style. The outer inscription and the inside of the lid are likely his wife's writing. It is unusual for the back of the box to be written on, but this is believed to be his own writing, which lacks fluidity.

The Sho Yu An on the pedestal may have a different character for An. It is difficult to distinguish because it is a wood carving in cursive script.

This is a one-of-a-kind, museum-quality masterpiece, but I am listing it for sale as I am organizing my collection and wish to pass it on to someone else.

Due to photography (amateur smartphone photography), the actual color may differ slightly.

Please forgive any slight errors in measurement as these are 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 pedestals have been remade, there may be some age-related deterioration such as scratches or scuffs.

#ViewingStone
#AppreciationStone
#Suiseki
#PatternedStone
#NaturalStone
#ChrysanthemumStone