Chinese Rough-Hewn Trough

Nobody chiseled this to impress anyone. It impresses anyway.

This rough-hewn trough comes from Shandong Province, China, and dates to the 18th century or earlier. It is stone. Heavy troughs of this sort served Chinese farmyards and courtyards, holding water or feed for animals, and were made to stay where they were put. Slanting chisel strokes rake across the outer face and the inside walls, and the rim is broad and uneven. It sits on a plain wooden stand with square legs. 43 inches wide and 21 high.

Few things have ever been less interested in being moved.