Botanical Runner Stone Vessel Sculpture

c. 1900
$4,680 USD SOLD
Dimensions
H: 21.0" Dia: 26.0"
Materials
Limestone
Collection #
DMB002
Estimated Shipping
$488

Simply shaped with an elegant form, this large limestone vessel is actually a runner stone, a key component to a traditional Chinese grain mill. Set atop an extensively carved mill stone, the runner stone was harnessed to a donkey or mule that pulled the runner in a circular motion across the bottom mill stone. With repeated rotations, the heavy weight of the stone was used to grind a variety of grains into flour. This early 20th-century runner stone was likely originally covered in a pattern of grooves, but frequent use has worn down the surface to the smooth texture it has today. Otherwise unadorned, the lip of this runner's opening is bordered with a pattern of trailing vines and blossoming flowers. Despite its functional origins, the stone lives on as a piece of sculpture, a piece of history tucked away in the garden.

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Andrea Goldman | Andrea Goldman Design

“Over the years, I’ve incorporated many pieces from PAGODA RED into my designs. Not only can they balance new furnishings (and often new construction) by feeling more established, but the pieces emanate a sense of rich history, often leaving you wondering where they were in a previous life. These beautiful pieces carefully hand-selected by the team at PAGODA RED, coupled with their unbelievable customer service, make them a must-have for any home.”

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