Chinese Carpenter's Plumb Line

Sleek reddish-brown lines, a rounded prow, and a spool tucked inside like a secret.

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. Smooth, boat-shaped box with a glossy polished finish and a curved front. A round spool sits in an open cut-out near the middle, and a rectangular well waits at the back end. Decoration is minimal. It is 8.5 inches wide, 1.75 deep and 3.25 high.

A streamlined look, no frills attached.