Strange, I posted a reply but don't see it here, trying again...
Les, I appear to be in a minority but I'm not too struck by the shape.
The carving detail is interesting. I've seen similar before but it was heavilly burnt/chard before the finishing cuts, to give the effect of a piece of rescued, burnt or lightning struck wood. The light (I think) charing you have applied is too little and so gives a pale inconclusive effect that does not carry through to the final piece very well.
