Fruitwood Gear Heart

Carved from a single block of fruitwood, this unusual piece was once part of the central wheel shaft of a Qing-dynasty grain mill. Each slot once secured a peg of a large water wheel, which harnessed river currents to draw a millstone across grain harvests. A rich patina cloaks the expressive grain of the fruitwood, softening the gear heart's irregular, rippled texture. Once a critical industrial mechanism, the piece now lives on as a sculptural side table or pedestal.