Chinese Lotus-Form Vessel

A scalloped stone bowl that really does look like a flower.

This lotus-form vessel was carved in marble in China and is dated in the record to the 19th century or earlier. The lotus is a widely used emblem of purity in Chinese art, and bowls shaped like it are commonly used as planters or water basins. A wide, shallow bowl with lobed edges sits on a narrow, flaring foot that echoes the petals. The stone is creamy white and softly mottled, with a worn, slightly gritty surface.

About 12 inches across and 6 tall. Soft, pale, and effortlessly graceful on a low table.