Chinese Carpenter's Plumb Line

Flowers carved into a wedge-shaped box, with a crank wire poking out like a stem.

This carpenter's plumb line is from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. It is wood. A plumb line is a cord with a weight at its end, used since ancient times to establish a true vertical when building and framing. Trapezoid box in dark brown with a flat flared foot and a front panel carved with a flower and leaves in lighter relief. A spool sits in the open top beside a small round well, and a bent wire hangs forward. It is 7.75 inches wide, 5 deep and 4 high.

Floral, solid, and a little proud of it.