Peonies have been the standard flower in Chinese decorative art for a very long time — more painted, more woven and more cast than any other bloom, because the layered petals give a designer something to work with. This version is built rather than cast: each petal is cut from brass sheet and formed by hand, then mounted on a cast stem.
That construction means the petals are thin and their edges can be sharp. It also means the flower is slightly adjustable — you can ease a petal outward if the piece arrives crushed. Base is polished stone; felt pad underneath.