A single block of marble has been cut into a long, pointed oval, like a boat or an almond leaf, with thick, softly rounded walls and a smooth, shallow well inside. The stone has aged to warm cream and honey, with a patch of amber staining low on one side, chalky white flecks and the faint tool marks of the hand that shaped it. This vintage marble vessel comes from Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal, where marble carving has been a family craft for generations. Its heft and worn surface give it the feel of a tool or trough from an older household.

At 17.5 inches long, 8.5 inches wide and 5 inches tall, it sits on a coffee table, console, dining table or kitchen counter as a catch-all, fruit bowl or centerpiece for dried flowers, shells or candles. The pale stone suits plaster walls, warm wood and linen.

• Era: Vintage
• Origin: Agra, India
• Material: Marble
• Size: 17.5"(W) x 8.5"(D) x 5"(H)
• Color: Cream, honey and amber
• Condition: Wear consistent with age and use, part of its character and historical value. Aged surface with staining, chalky flecks and tool marks.

This vintage marble vessel from Agra, India is carved from a single block into a boat-shaped oval, in cream and honey with amber staining. It measures 17.5 inches long, 8.5 inches wide and 5 inches tall. It works as a catch-all, fruit bowl or centerpiece on a table, console or counter.

Q: Why is Agra known for marble craftsmanship?
A: Agra was a Mughal capital in the 16th and 17th centuries, and its stone workers carved and inlaid marble for monuments such as the Taj Mahal. Families of marble craftsmen in the city have carried the skills down through the generations.

Q: How do you use a long marble vessel as a centerpiece?
A: Set it lengthwise down the middle of a table or along a console and fill it with fruit, dried flowers, shells or pillar candles. Because the stone is heavy, it stays put, and its pale color lets the contents be the focus.

**Please bear in mind that colors of products shown may vary slightly from their original color due to monitor display settings or photography studio