Nature has always held an instinctive pull for us, the same ancient draw that once pulled our ancestors toward fire, forests, and shelter. The forms we return to again and again are those shaped gently by the natural world, carrying a sense of quiet familiarity and ease.

Instead of starting with a pebble, this piece begins with the beech leaf itself. Its soft curves, fine veins, and balanced symmetry embody the kind of design only nature can teach: calm, understated, and effortlessly complete. Beech leaves have long been associated with wisdom, learning, gentle resilience, and the opening of new chapters, qualities that echo through the woodland canopy they come from.

This plate is hand-formed, pressed with a real beech leaf gathered from my garden, capturing their delicate structure and woodland spirit. The reverse is impressed with vintage lace, allowing both sides of the piece to hold beauty — a meeting of natural form and handcrafted heritage.

Organically varied and intentionally shaped, this small ceramic plate carries the quiet symbolism of the beech tree: a talisman for growth, clarity, and moving thoughtfully into whatever comes next.