Chinese Stone Grinding Wheel

A grainy round slab, chevron-etched edge, one small hole punched near the middle.

This stone grinding wheel is from Shandong Province, China. Grinding wheels and stone mills have been used in China since ancient times to process grain, spices and pigments, and many were turned by hand or by animals. A circular, slightly rough disc with a coarse, sandy surface in grey and tan. A border of angled chisel marks forms a star-like pattern around the rim. It is 20.5 inches wide, 4.5 deep and 20.5 high.

Patient hands, plenty of chisel, one decisive hole.