Nail and Structure Stones: Viewing Stones or Building Materials?
Introduction to and description of these unusual composite stones from China
By Thomas S. Elias, November, 2021
Nail Stones may push the limits of our imagination when thinking about how rocks form. The small nail-sized protrusions extend for several centimeters in all directions from plate-like sheets and often surround other unrelated stones. Their look is somewhat bizarre as it first appears that one stone is capturing or engulfing another stone. In actuality, mineral deposits are forming on or around an older rock, and over time forms combine with that stone to create an amazing decorated piece of geological history. The result can be beautifully decorated structural stones that are both odd and enticing. In some cases, the extreme figuring adds character to the rock. These types are also known as tectonic or structural stones in the viewing stone marketplace. Some specialists think that tectonic movements set the stage for the later deposition, hence the name tectonic stones.
Taiwan nail stone, front view (left) and back (right), 17.5 cm wide, 6.5 cm high and 5.5 cm deep.
I.C. Su featured two intricate nail stones in his book Suiseki Collections in Taiwan (2009). One of those stones was presented to stone connoisseur Willi Benz from Germany. Benz later donated it to the National Museum of Germany along with other stones from the Benz collection.
These stones are found in different locations in southern China, ranging from Taiwan to the southwestern provinces. When found, they are buried in soil and caked with mud. Nail stones must be hand cleaned to expose the intricate details. Soaking them in water first and using old toothbrushes and wooden pics is preferable to using powered equipment to clean the stones. The use of high-pressure water or powered wire brushes can destroy the small figure-like projections. This may explain why high-quality nail stones are so rare.
Structure Stones
These stones, with their lattice-shaped outer coverings, are believed to be the result of characteristics of the underlying stone. Liu’s encyclopedic work
Complete Collection and Appreciation of Chinese Fantastic Stones (2007) believe these were formed when intersecting tensile cracks became filled with iron and silicon-rich materials that eventually formed the rusty-colored latticework. These patterns are what give a stone so much of its appeal to collectors. This is especially evident with the somewhat flattened stone on the left. In contrast, the round-headed stone on the right has a raised pattern of iron-rich material. Was this stone entirely covered with the lighter colored stone, and the softer parts washed away, leaving this pattern? Or was this pattern enhanced by a skilled stone carver? We will never know the answers to these questions. Instead, we can view this stone and let the existing patterns influence our thoughts.
Taiwan structure stone, 12.5 cm wide, 14.3 cm high, 4 cm wide
In this example, the underlying gray stone has mainly been encased in the ferrous-rich over layer. This may have been due to the lack of tiny intersecting cracks on the stone’s surface to catch and hold materials responsible for the reticulate patterns found on other stones. This stone may be from Taiwan due to its distinctive base. The fine numerous vertical lines on the wood base are characteristic of certain Taiwanese bases.
This composite structure stone is 18 cm wide, 21 cm high, and 8 cm deep without the wood base. Successive layers of iron-rich deposits surround the two ovoid-shaped reddish-orange-colored stones. The combined stones make a visually exciting piece that can be interpreted in several ways. Are they two seeds developing in a pod? Or, do they evoke feelings of being trapped in a life situation? Regardless, this geological element makes an extraordinary viewing stone.
Nail and structure stones are examples of the complex array of beautifully occurring patterns in nature. These geological wonders are one small part of the suite of rocks that are collected and admired in the international world of viewing stone appreciation.
Notes:
I thank Phillip and Michin Ho for translating pertinent information from Chinese to English for this article.
The stones illustrated here are in the collection Thomas S. Elias and Hiromi Nakaoji.
