Basic Introduction to Zhuolu Nanjiangshi
Nanjiangshi, also known as Nanjiangshi Lion's Head, is named after its discovery in Nanjiangshi Village, Xiejiazhai Town, Zhuolu County, Hebei Province, where this type of walnut is produced. It first appeared during the Qing Dynasty but did not receive much attention due to its low yield. It is a variety of Scholar's Object Walnut.
Product Features
The generally recognized features include: large cross tip, concave bottom, diamond-shaped base, thick wide edges, dense texture (in the form of tight pattern), and a hard shell like stone. It is worth noting that the height of the Nanjiangshi variety is usually slightly taller compared to the Dwarf Lion's Head. Perfectly matched pairs with excellent appearance are very rare on the market, especially those with a slightly shorter stature, which are even rarer, making them highly sought after by enthusiasts of scholar's objects.
Historical Folklore
“Nanjiangshi Lion's Head” belongs to the category of Scholar's Lion's Head walnuts, one of many varieties. According to undocumented legends, it was called “Mapillar” at the end of the Qing Dynasty and later renamed “Ma Ke” during the Republic of China era. Due to its rarity and limited recognition among connoisseurs, it was not considered a high-end variety in earlier times and was regarded as a secondary object. Recently, this walnut variety was discovered in Nanjiangshi Village, Zhuolu County, Hebei Province, leading to its name being widely accepted as Nanjiangshi Lion's Head. Its hard texture results in a crisp sound when played with after being polished and glazed, similar to the sound of two stones colliding, which contributed to the spread of the name Nanjiangshi.