羅紋硯產(chan)地位(wei)于江西省玉(yu)山縣懷玉(yu)山之東童坊鄉(xiang)千(qian)村際塘坑至米(mi)坑一(yi)帶,距玉(yu)山縣城(cheng)約40公里(li)。羅紋石為含鈣質(zhi)粉砂板巖(yan)(yan),產(chan)于震旦(dan)紀地層中,其頂底板均為黃綠色(se)粉砂質(zhi)千(qian)枚巖(yan)(yan)。天然紋飾(shi)有玉(yu)帶紋、刷絲紋等,其中還有豆斑。
玉山羅紋硯(yan)與(yu)(yu)歙(she)硯(yan)龍(long)尾羅紋硯(yan)在石質(zhi)肌理粗與(yu)(yu)細,疏與(yu)(yu)密,聚與(yu)(yu)散都各有千秋。
玉山羅(luo)紋(wen)(wen)由于(yu)絹云母含量(liang)低,看不(bu)見質地肌理上均勻的分布,如珍(zhen)珠貝殼光般的铓點,石(shi)質肌理比(bi)較粗,密(mi)度(du)低,性脆,沒有歙硯龍尾(wei)羅(luo)紋(wen)(wen)坑的光澤,而偏灰。
羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)亦屬中(zhong)國名硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)。唐宋(song)時(shi)產(chan)自歙(she)州(zhou)婺源羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)山(shan)。硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石(shi)上有羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)、有細羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)、粗羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)、古犀羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)、金(jin)絲羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)、金(jin)星羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)、松紋(wen)(wen)(wen)羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)等十余品(pin),因羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)粗細、形狀、色澤不同而分別題(ti)名。唐大歷元年(nian)(766年(nian))已有開采。據清(qing)同潔《玉(yu)山(shan)縣志(zhi)》載:“石(shi)之屬有體青而帶(dai)白,紋(wen)(wen)(wen)直而理精(jing)者,出沙溪(xi)嶺,可(ke)研(yan)。朱子(熹)稱(cheng)為懷玉(yu)研(yan)。”羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)結構縝密,紋(wen)(wen)(wen)若水(shui)波,石(shi)面泛(fan)著光(guang)澤,呵(he)氣(qi)成汗;將其沉入水(shui)中(zhong),則(ze)濕(shi)潤如玉(yu)。羅(luo)(luo)紋(wen)(wen)(wen)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)具有發沫細快,久磨無粉雜入墨中(zhong)、貯水(shui)不涸等特點(dian)。朱熹在(zai)《懷玉(yu)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)銘》里(li)說:“……懷玉(yu)山(shan)相(xiang)連,山(shan)產(chan)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)石(shi),蓋(gai)歙(she)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)之佳者。”參閱(yue)宋(song)米芾《硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)史(shi)·歙(she)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)婺源石(shi)》、唐積《歙(she)州(zhou)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)譜·石(shi)坑》、洪適(shi)《歙(she)硯(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)說》。