Chinese Natural Hardwood Vessel

The grain here twists like wrung cloth.

This natural vessel was shaped from elm wood in Guangdong Province, China, in the late 19th or early 20th century. Hollowed trunks like this were commonly used in the region as sturdy containers for grain and household goods. The wood spirals upward in long, ropy ridges, narrowing slightly toward the open mouth, which has a thin, chipped rim. The color is blond and sun-dried, with grey patches and shallow splits along the sides.

About 21 inches tall. Sculpture by weather, set on your floor.