This beautiful piece of Chinese turquoise has a highly irregular shape pierced with several holes, and is reminiscent of the more common Taihu stone except for its color. Turquoise as a viewing stone is rare, and typically is not seen in stone markets. Most Chinese turquoise is processed into jewelry; only a few extraordinary pieces are sold as viewing stones or as semi-precious stones. “Contemplation” is 26 cm high including its base, 10 cm wide and 6 cm deep. Turquoise is formed when ground water percolates through rock that contains aluminum, copper, and phosphorous, and is often associated with copper mines. Its collection and use in China dates back 3,700 years or more.