Suiseki Figure – “River Pebble n.4”

Description

River Pebble n.4 is a refined and minimalist suiseki by Italian artist Franco Mauri, part of an essential series that celebrates the quiet beauty of stones shaped by the patient hand of nature. Sourced from the Po River, this piece is made from palombino, a fine-grained stone known for its smoothness and subtle presence. Set on a delicate Koto wood daiza, the work embodies balance, harmony, and organic purity.

With its softly rounded silhouette and gentle curves, River Pebble n.4 carries the unmistakable touch of time—polished smooth by water, the surface invites not just the eye, but the hand. Its light brown hue gives it a warm, calming presence, reminiscent of earth tones at dusk or riverbanks under soft light. There are no sharp lines or dramatic contrasts—only the perfect simplicity of natural form, rendered complete through erosion and movement.

This stone is not a depiction of a landscape, figure, or symbol—it is a presence. A quiet, essential object that speaks through form, texture, and weight. It represents a cornerstone of Mauri’s practice: a deep reverence for stones not for what they resemble, but for what they are, and the story they carry within.

The Koto wood daiza is crafted to match the stone’s softness, giving it just enough lift to emphasize its form without interrupting its organic flow. Together, stone and base form a seamless whole, rooted in natural beauty and traditional Japanese display aesthetics.

River Pebble n.4 is not just a stone—it is a meditation on time, flow, and stillness. A grounding piece for collectors who appreciate restraint, elemental form, and the silent language of river-shaped stone. In its subtlety lies its strength.