Stone of the Month: December 2019"Starry Night in Moji"
This Japanese pattern stone, a Moji Plum Flower Stone, gives the impression of a clear, dark, moonless night as the stars begin to appear. To others, it may evoke the presence of white plum flower blossoms against the night sky. Regardless of the feeling this stone may elicit, it is an impressive Japanese
suiseki.
The contrast between the black background and the white fossils create a dramatic scene. This type of pattern stone has long been appreciated in suiseki history. Two of these stones are included in the valuable Japanese reference “Densho-seki or Historical Stones.”
The whitish patterns in this dark limestone are actually cross sections of fossil segments of ancient crinoid stems. These segmented stalked marine animals were once more abundant in shallow ocean environments than they are today. The segments are composed primarily of calcium carbonate. The Japanese suiseki community included fossils in their suite of stones that were collected and appreciated, although this was not a common practice.
This type of stone is found in northern Kyushu island in the city of Moji, Japan These stones are often displayed in a more natural unpolished condition. This stone is 35 cm wide, 22.5 cm high, and 8 cm deep (13 x 9 x 3.5 inches) and has been polished. It is in the collection of Tom Elias and Hiromi Nakaoji.
