Gear Heart Stool

Carved from a single block of elmwood, 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 century of use has cloaked the wood's raw texture in a rich patina, accentuating its expressive grain. Once a critical industrial mechanism, the piece now lives on as a sculptural side table or stool.