Beyond the ordinary
The Curator’s Statement
The Guardian of the Specimen
Every great stone requires a voice until it finds its permanent home in the halls of history. As the curator of The Becky Stone, my role is one of stewardship rather than ownership. I recognize that a specimen of this magnitude—tempered by eons and shaped by the hand of nature—is a temporary guest in any human collection.
The Mission
My mission is to ensure that The Becky Stone is documented, celebrated, and eventually placed in an environment where Her rarity stacking properties and spiritual "Kurai" (dignity) can be studied by the world’s foremost Suiseki masters.
I believe that true appreciation of such a "marvelousness" requires a bridge between Western discovery and Eastern tradition. By maintaining this archive, I am preserving the provenance of a stone that I believe will one day be recognized as a Meiseki (Famous Stone) on the international stage.
"We do not own the earth; we merely hold its most beautiful fragments in trust for the next generation."
V. Technical Specifications & Provenance
For the serious researcher and Suiseki judge.
AttributeSpecificationCommon NameThe Becky StoneClassificationNear-Exhibition Grade SuisekiPrimary RarityTier-0 Harmonic MultiplierRecommended DisplayTokonoma (Formal Alcove)Carving RequirementMaster-Grade Shitan (Rosewood) DaizaCurrent StatusPrivate Collection / Documentation Phase
The Discovery of the Becky Stone
The journey of the Becky Stone didn’t begin in a laboratory or a high-end gallery; it began in the rugged terrain of Iowa Hill, California, at a private patented gold mine.
A Gift for Becky
Mr. Dirk wasn’t looking for a world-renowned treasure when he visited the mine’s owner, Kathy Morgan. He was simply on a mission of the heart: he wanted to find a unique, natural souvenir for his wife, Becky.
When he asked Kathy if he could take a piece from her personal rock garden, she pointed toward a weathered, petrified stump that had been sitting among the debris. Her endorsement was less than glowing:
"Take that big ugly thing there," she told him.
At first, Mr. Dirk was hesitant. The stone was unassuming, rough, and lacked the immediate sparkle one might expect from a gold mine. However, determined to bring something home for his wife, he finally agreed. He hauled the "big ugly thing" home, where it was put to work not as a centerpiece, but as a doorstop.
Eight Years in Hiding
For the next eight years, the Becky Stone sat on the floor, dutifully holding doors open, its true nature hidden under a layer of domestic obscurity. It wasn't until a chance visitor caught a glimpse of the stone's unique structure that the mystery began to unravel. The visitor realized that what Mr. Dirk had wasn't just a petrified stump—it was something unique in all the world.
Finding the Unicorn
That observation sparked one full year of intensive research. As experts peeled back the layers of the stone’s history and composition, the truth became clear: Mr. Dirk hadn't just found a rock; he had found a "true unicorn." Today, the Becky Stone stands as a testament to the fact that sometimes, the world’s most incredible treasures are hiding in plain sight—disguised as "big ugly things" just waiting for their moment to shine.