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INDEX
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A Review of
"Suiseki: The Japanese Art of Miniature Landscape Stones"
by Felix G. Rivera, Stone Bridge Press, 1997
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![[suiseki]](http://www.bovagems.com/eclectic/gfx/97_Jul/suiseki.jpg)
Suiseki is an art form that will be readily understood by the mineralist and the rockhound alike. Both are accustomed to seeking the forms and colors of stone and mineral that please the eye and meet collecting goals. From here, it is an easy step to
appreciating this ancient art. Felix Rivera provides a bridge between the two worlds in his new book, "Suiseki: The Japanese Art of Miniature Landscape Stones."
Suiseki (pronounced soo-ee-sek-ee) is a combination of two words meaning "water" and "stone." It refers to stone materials shaped by natural forces into the miniature forms of mountains, waterfalls, islands and even living creatures. The stone is not
worked in any fashion, except for cutting to provide a flat base, and developing a patina over time through handling and applying water to the stone.
Rivera takes us through the history of the classical suiseki forms (Japanese collecting dates back over six hundred years), into the most recent use of western United States materials in the last decade. The global internet community will appreciate the
section describing overviews of collecting areas in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Puerto Rico and Australia.
Suiseki: The Japanese Art of Miniature Landscape Stones covers a wide range of suiseki topics in a casual, easily read and highly informative format. Rivera goes beyond the history and aesthetics and covers practical information on classifying,
collecting, evaluating, display and photography as well. The appendix offers definitions, additional information sources for clubs, societies, internet sites, maps and other resources. This book would be a wonderful addition to a rockhound's
library.
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Copyright, 1997 by Carol J. Bova
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