PIO Büste

The PIO Büste from Klatt Objects is a hand-carved santol wood head sculpture with an arrestingly calm, almost archaic presence. Chisel marks are left fully visible across the domed crown, the heavy brow and the long beard, so the whole surface reads as a mosaic of small facets that catch light from one side and fall into shadow on the other. The face is reduced to essentials — closed lids, a straight nose, a softly parted mouth — while the base is left as a raw section of trunk, complete with a natural split.

Each head is worked by hand and carries its own personality. Coarse, unsmoothed surfaces are deliberately kept, and cracks and knot holes are part of the piece: marks of authenticity rather than flaws. Because the carving takes place at the foot of the Pinatubo volcano, the heads may bear faint traces of volcanic ash, underlining their original character. Santol (Sandoricum koetjape) belongs to the mahogany family and grows widely across Southeast Asia and other tropical regions; its fruit is eaten raw or made into jams, jellies and syrups. The wood's lively grain and warm, greyish-brown tones bring sensuality and warmth to a room.

Set it on a console, a stack of art books or a mantel — the raw formal language suits wabi-sabi, ethnic-modern and pared-back contemporary interiors.

• Brand: Klatt Objects
• Wood: Santol (Sandoricum koetjape), mahogany family
• Material: wood
• Colour: natural
• Finish: rough, hand-carved, unsmoothed
• Character: handmade unique piece; cracks and knot holes are intentional