leave it alone or

[ckr]

My plan was to sand the smooth part of the bowl and maybe light steel wool to lighten up the leaf's veins and then to stain a different color on the smooth part of the bowl. Maybe lighter or maybe darker. Darker would hide several pits on one side.

BUT..... I am not so sure.

What do u guys think?

[LexKY_Pipe]

I would do the contrast that you suggest. If the bowl is darker, make the leave a bit lighter and perhaps a different color.

Very interesting shape.

[forrest]

I agree, contrast would look great.

[ckr]

The tobacco leaf is recessed except where it folds off the bowl, the difficulty of sanding it rather than the higher bowl is very prblematic

[Nick]

I'd leave it like it is. The shape alone sets it off very well. Really cool detail btw! I love it

[ckr]

Thanks all for your opinions. But I'll go with Nick's recommendation, finish this puppy up and load it! Makes sense to me, the leaf folding away from the bowl is enough to draw attention to itself.

I'll probably do this again and try a medium brown for the leaf and a contrast on the bowl.