Pair of lignum vitae vases, each turned and displaying the characteristic yellow sapwood and dark heartwood.
England c. 19th c.
10" tall
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Lignum vitae (Tree of life) was imported into England from the West Indies as early as the 16th century, not for furniture making, but for its medicinal properties. Originally used to cure everything from gout to jaundice to venereal diseases, it wasn't used for wood turning until the early 18th century.
These vases date to the second quarter of the 19th century. Hand turned, they are not exactly the same size. The left-hand vase is about ΒΌ" taller. Each has several natural age cracks and the right hand vase has a small repaired chip to the foot rim.