Today's offering is a Venetian finial, intended to go on top of a pole, or palo da casada, such as seen on the Venice canals. This one went to Chipping in Lancashire rather than Venice, where it will be painted to match its striped pole. The poles in Venice all have different designs, and indicate who the owner of the house is outside which they stand. They used to have lanterns on top; today they have a finial symbolic of a lantern flame.
Made from a block of Lawson cypress for the finial, and three blocks of larch for the base. 10" wide by 13" tall.