The medium Golden Mushroom is about 25 cm tall and just as wide, and it weighs about 490 g. Three hand-carved wooden mushrooms stand on a dark base. The stems are painted white, with the brown grain of the wood showing faintly through, so up close they look a little like birch bark. Up top, the wavy caps are carved with radiating lines picked out in gilt, and the wide, flat base keeps the mushrooms steady.
White stems, gold caps
White is the lightest of the three versions. If your rooms have pale furniture, linen tablecloths or white pottery, it blends in rather than standing out. In the evening, with a tea light nearby, the gold caps catch the glow of the flame.
It also makes a good housewarming present for someone with a light, white-furnished home. The medium size does not take up much room on a small table, yet it catches the eye from across the room.
Albasia wood from Indonesia
Each one is carved by hand in Indonesia from albasia, a light wood. You will notice that the cap edges are not evenly wavy and the paint differs slightly from piece to piece, which is simply the mark of handwork.
For the festive table or a windowsill
In December, set it among pine sprigs and dried orange slices, and the white and gold will suit a festive table well. Through the rest of the year it works well on a windowsill or a hall table, and in Advent it fits beside the wreath. It is an indoor ornament, so do not wipe it with a damp cloth, and keep it out of a steamy bathroom, as moisture harms painted wood.