A substantial sculptural piece, this wheel is crafted from aged, dark-toned hardwood and constructed in segmented horizontal sections using traditional joinery around a deeply carved central hub. The wood reveals a rich, textured grain with natural fissures that speak to its long functional history and exposure to time. Elevated on twin metal stand-off rods anchored into a rustic hand-carved wooden base, the composition creates a striking contrast between industrial presentation and organic material, transforming a utilitarian form into a refined architectural sculpture.
“Yunnan is a province in southwest China that is fairly undeveloped and isolated and is home to a large number of ethic minorities including the Akha and Naxi, two groups stumbled across as I was out exploring over 3 decades ago. The Chinese government came into this region to help modernize their simple wood wheel barrows. They used to haul loads over the mountain pathways, but the government helped by bringing in solid rubber and steel wheels. Life just got a lot better for this group. Where this work was being done in the village, I saw a large pile of discarded wooden wheels of all sizes and conditions. All these wood wheels were shipped to Shanghai where an antique dealer we did business with would mount these wheels on metal “stand offs” which would then be mounted to a wood base.” – Clayton Korver
China
Yunnan Province
