Banya Bather With Birch Besom

A cheerful bathhouse regular, mid-steam and loving every second. This oval plaque frames a rotund, bald, bushy-bearded man leaning out of a wooden bathing tub — one foot cheekily raised, a bundled birch besom (the traditional *venik*) tucked under his arm and a froth of suds around him. The oval ring sits against a wall of rough vertical planks, and a spray of carved birch leaves wreathes the lower edge. It's folk humour through and through: warm, round-lined and grinning. A natural gift for a sauna, banya or hot-tub room, a bathhouse door, or anyone who takes their steam seriously. Carve / print notes • Rich, layered relief — the beard, leaves and bubbles sit at very different depths, so a fine ball-nose finishing pass earns its keep on CNC. • Print face-up; add light supports under the raised foot and the overhanging leaf tips. • Aspen or lime is the authentic banya timber and carves beautifully; if it'll live somewhere humid, seal with an oil rather than a film finish. • Around 200–300 mm tall keeps the facial detail and the hand in the tub clearly readable.