Chinese Base with Ru Yi and Stylized Lotus Motif

A dark scrollwork stand with a lipped top and shapely, curled feet.

This base with ru yi and stylized lotus motif is from China. It is sandalwood. Sandalwood is a fragrant, close-grained heartwood that carvers in China have long used for small objects that call for fine, detailed work. Wide round stand with a shallow top and a thin raised rim. The waist bulges into lobes with cutouts, scrolls and leafy flourishes, and short feet curl outward at the base. The finish is a muted dark brown. It is 2.38 inches high and 7.5 in diameter.

Sturdy bones dressed in a surprising amount of ornament.