Chinese Pillar Base - Lotus Shape

Someone carved petals on the part of the building most people step around.

Carved in stone, this lotus-form pillar base is from China and dates to the early 18th century. In Chinese architecture, wooden columns rested on such bases, which bore the load and held the timber above the wet. Lotus shapes were common, since the flower carries strong associations in Buddhist thought. Plump petals ring the body beneath a scalloped, stepped collar, and a faceted foot flares out at the bottom. Charcoal tones gather toward the lower edge, and some edges look chipped. Height is 13.5 inches, with an 18-inch diameter.

Decoration and heavy lifting, at the same address.