Lingbi Stone White Horse Pattern Stone

Length 23cm, Width 15cm, Height 33cm

Variety Classification: White Horse Veined Stone is a top-grade Lingbi stone, belonging to the Lingbi chime stone type, known for its beautiful veins and fine texture. Its mineral composition is primarily calcite, formed from carbonate mud in a reducing environment. It solidified into rock through geological processes, or developed fissure-filling textures through groundwater dissolution.

Texture Type: White Horse Stone commonly exhibits 12 natural textures, including tortoise, butterfly, and walnut patterns, with loops and volutes (turtle back patterns) being the most representative. The texture is three-dimensional and smooth, with a distinct, natural transition, creating a unique visual aesthetic.

Morphological Evaluation: Stones of this size with a restrained shape, a glossy black, ancient skin, and a resonant sound when tapped, embodying the qualities of "strange, ugly, clear, unusual, sculpted, and resonant," are considered top-quality. Stones with full, striking patterns are even more valuable. Market and Collectible Value
Scarcity
Long-term mining has nearly depleted the White Horse Vein Stone source, and recent excavation by excavators has led to a sharp decline in market availability. Its limited availability and beautiful patterns make it a top choice for Lingbi stone enthusiasts, contributing to its continued price increase.
Historical Status
Lingbi stone has been used as a tribute since ancient times and was already renowned during the Tang and Song dynasties. Song scholar Du Wan ranked it first in his "Yunlin Stone Catalogue," and Emperor Qianlong praised it as "the first of the four most beautiful stones." As the aristocrat among Lingbi stones, White Horse Vein Stone is particularly renowned for its beautiful patterns and superior quality.
Cultural Meaning: The texture of White Horse Vein Stone resembles rolling white clouds and surging waves, echoing the literati's pursuit of the wild beauty of nature. Its visual beauty of "movement and stillness" embodies the wonders of nature's uncanny craftsmanship and is a model of the comprehensive aesthetic of "shape, texture, color, and pattern" in traditional stone appreciation culture.