Antique Italian Stone Vessel

A small antique Italian stone vessel, a solid rectangular block whose interest is on the inside: the basin walls are scored with deep diagonal ribbing, parallel grooves that hold the light in distinct lines and give the bowl a texture you want to run a hand over. The exterior is left raw and uneven. The stone is a warm chalky cream, with dark gray mineral deposits gathered along the heavy corners, and the rim is thick and irregular, widening and narrowing as it follows the block.

It measures about 21 1/2 inches wide, 13 3/4 inches deep and 7 3/4 inches high, a deep boxy proportion for its footprint that gives it real presence on a surface. It is an antique Italian piece and comes as found. It is small enough to go on a tabletop and heavy enough to stay there.

Set it on a sturdy console in an entry, on a limestone vanity top as a basin, or on a garden table as a shallow stone trough for cut herbs and water. Against polished wood or smooth plaster the rough block is the one raw thing in the room. This stone vessel has sold, but small Italian basins pass through the yard often; ask and we will send photographs of what is current.