Washing Stone, South Korea

Heavy, level and plain, the sort of object that has never once tried to impress anybody.

This washing stone comes from South Korea and dates to the 20th century, in stone. Korean laundry was traditionally finished by laying damp cloth on a low stone block and beating it with a pair of wooden paddles, which pressed and polished the fabric. The block is a long rectangle with a flat working surface and crisp edges, slightly softened by use. Two short feet are cut beneath the ends, raising it just off the ground. The grey stone has a dry, sandy texture with small pits scattered across the sides. It is 21 inches wide, 8 deep and 4.5 high.

It did the pressing long before anyone thought of steam.