One of my prized possessions. Known in Korea as suseok (수석 --"water and stone"), these rare stones have naturally occurring landscape-like images embedded in them, and being considered minor miracles of nature, can fetch high prices among collectors. The most valuable specimens actually command prices ranging in the hundreds of thousands of US dollars! Although this particular stone is not nearly so expensive (obviously, since I was able to afford it), due in part to the fact that it has been cut and ground flat and therefore not in its original, pristine state, nevertheless the "view" itself is quite genuine. Perhaps in ancient times people would have considered these miniature worlds to be proof of the earth's power of spontaneous generation.
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