Chinese Candle Base with Lotus Motif

Petal over petal, this black flower has opened as wide as it can.

This candle base with a lotus motif in camphor wood is from Putian, Fujian Province, China, and is contemporary. Camphor wood is aromatic and generally resistant to insects, which is why it has long been used in Chinese chests and carved objects. Low round form built from rows of rounded petals, the upper ring pointing outward like a crown. Smooth dark surfaces catch faint highlights along the edges. The center is a flat disc, plain and unmarked. It is 3 inches high and 11.28 in diameter.

Geometry with a nice sense of drama.