RECENT Donations to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Part 6/6
In 2024, the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum welcomed five remarkable new additions—four exquisite bonsai and a striking suiseki. Each piece tells a unique story, reflecting the artistry, history, and evolving traditions of bonsai. Carefully selected for their cultural significance and artistic merit, these new acquisitions highlight the diversity of bonsai and its growing influence in North America. Join us as we explore the fascinating origins, creative vision, and horticultural mastery behind these latest treasures.
On behalf of Ron Maggio’s family, Seiji Morimae presents the Horseshoe suiseki to Dr. Richard Olsen, Director of the U.S. National Arboretum, in 2024.
When searching for suiseki, or “waterstones,” beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Like other art forms, these viewing stones are open to interpretation, and every viewer will find their own meaning in each one. But when a special stone is discovered, it’s hard not to be compelled to share its captivating form with the world.
The Horseshoe suiseki, or waterstone, on its Kiribako display.
Viewing stones, which can be appreciated for their likeness to naturally occurring scenes or objects, are often sourced from rivers or beaches where centuries of water movement, tumbling, and erosion shapes and softens their sharp edges.
In 2024, the family of the late Ronald Maggio, a passionate and prolific collector of bonsai and suiseki, donated one such stone to The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.
Maggio, who also cared for bonsai, exhibited several suiseki throughout his life, including at the 61st Exhibition of Suiseki Masterpieces, the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, and the 10th Japan Suiseki Exhibition. He was known for hosting suiseki displays and demonstrations and for his meticulous stone records. He liked to exhibit suiseki in the name of his son and grandson, and he could often be found traveling around the world with his wife JoAnn, hunting for the next enchanting suiseki.
Seiji Morimae at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in 2024.
Seiji Morimae — a renowned bonsai and suiseki expert, board member of the Nippon Suiseki Association, and longtime supporter and donor to the Museum — previously owned the stone. Maggio purchased it from his personal collection on a trip to Japan. On behalf of the Maggio family, Seiji presented the stone to the Arboretum’s director, Dr. Richard Olsen, during a recent visit to the Museum in 2024. Peter Warren, an international bonsai professional based outside London and one of the few who has completed a full six-year apprenticeship in Japan under legendary expert Kunio Kobayashi, accompanied the trip and served as translator.
This particular suiseki, nicknamed the “Horseshoe stone”, was formed by natural geologic processes in Japan’s Abe River. The Abe — which is known for its crystal-clear waters, stunning mountain scenery, and as the likely birthplace of wasabi cultivation due to its mineral-rich streams — flows near Mount Fuji and the city of Shizuoka on Honshu, Japan’s main island.
A vintage description of the suiseki.
The remarkable viewing stone is displayed atop a Kiribako, a wooden box traditionally carved to protect and present special gifts and goods that also serves as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. The two Japanese characters on the box translate as “seisen”, literally “ground water coming out naturally” — otherwise known as a natural spring. Including the Kiribako, which helps to display the stone’s unique formation, the suiseki measures 14.5 cm wide by 12.5 cm deep by 10.4 cm tall.
This Abe River stone, naturally shaped by wind and water over centuries, holds deep spiritual significance. The Horseshoe stone’s “heavenly pond” feature embodies the serenity and spirituality found in Japanese tea ceremonies. Metaphorically, the puddle that collects within it can represent a hole that contains the entire universe.
Museum Curator Michael James, Peter Warren, Seiji Morimae, and U.S. National Arboretum Director Dr. Richard Olsen at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.
The stone adds another layer of cultural and artistic depth to the Museum’s collection, offering visitors a unique look at suiseki, a medium closely linked to bonsai and often placed side-by-side with tree displays. Through the dedication and generosity of collectors like Morimae and Maggio, the Museum remains a place where visitors can appreciate the rich heritage of these art forms. In this way, the Museum continues to serve as a cultural bridge between East and West, preserving these ancient traditions for future generations.
The stone now finds a home at the Museum, honoring the legacy of Ron Maggio, who passed away in July 2024. We are deeply grateful to the Maggio family for their kindness and generosity in donating the stone.
Seiji Morimae (center) explains the significance and artistic merit of the Horseshoe stone, alongside Peter Warren (left) and Dr. Richard Olsen (right) at the U.S. National Arboretum.
We send special thanks to Seiji Morimae for facilitating its delivery and for his longtime support of the Museum.
We also recognize Jason Cederberg, member of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York, for assisting JoAnn and Seiji in transporting the display to its new home; and Peter Warren, who accompanied Seiji to deliver the stone and served as translator during his visit.