Limestone Drum Stool

During the Qing Dynasty, artisans from the Shanxi region of China carefully carved this stool from a single block of limestone. Stools like this were frequently used in gardens and outdoor pavilions where upper class scholars read, wrote, discussed antiques and art and, in general, developed their inner sensibilities. This example is incised with round circles at both the top and bottom, mimicking nail heads that would have secured a hide top on an actual drum. A variegated rust color is apparent throughout the stool, a direct result of the iron content in the stone.