This traditional Chinese wooden mooncake mold, once used for pressing festive sweets, is carved in the form of a carp — one of the most auspicious and symbolic motifs in Chinese culture.

The metal strip on the side is a traditional handmade repair, reinforcing the mold after a split in the wood — a mark of continued use and care.

Each mold was unique to the artisan and often served within a single household for decades.

Sculptural in presence, it can be displayed on a wall or shelf, where its carved details and traces of use reveal the quiet devotion of its maker.