Flameblock

Abstract carving of a block of cocobolo burl wood, with a section of the sapwood. Four and three-eights inches high. All four sides are shown, set at angles, and with one scan repeated at both ends, to show the way the carving design transitions around the edges. Many of the holes connect with each other inside the block. A set of flat-on views is here: donsimpson.deviantart.com/art/...

The intense, variegated red is the natural color of the wood at the heart of the tree; the sapwood (the layer just under the bark) is shades of brown, and there is a void in it at the upper edge of the block where the bark was removed. I left the void area uncarved, as it has a nice, subtle texture.

UPDATE: The description has been re-written due to discussion in the comments, and on-line research, about the wood used.

UPDATE: This piece has been featured on Propnomicon, a Lovecraft mythos prop blog, on October 21, 2011 propnomicon.blogspot.com/2011/...