Moon rock sculptural piece on wood plinth

Oh dear. I suppose I should be bigging this up in case it’s an important piece of art.
It’s best feature is that it’s small, 7” in all, so easier to hide from Hilary. A 7 foot version could be a problem.
It looks like volcanic rock or cinders and seems to be thrown or turned inside.
No signature but maybe nobody would claim it as there’s.
Ok, maybe I am a Ceramic Heathen and my apologies if I have offended anyone.
Please tell me who it is - I am genuinely interested. Thank you all again.

Beverley Bell-Hughes comes to mind as maybe a vague possibility. She does this type of weathered work, and she does not sign her work. Who is Hilary?

Hilary is my wife who has to put up with pots and stuff coming and going! Thanks, I’ll check out Beverley Bell - Hughes. Thanks

If it’s rock rather than pottery, then it might be a scholar’s stone, or just an interesting bit of volcanic rock

Rock rather than pottery....But is not that the whole point about some potters? The nearer they are to 'nature' the more comfortable they are with their pottery?
Mefinks an interest in studio pottery in the end needs to be a joint venture. Although given the number of pots that Ben seems to accumulate, Hilary might need the space!

if it's volcanic rock then if you tap it with a hammer (hopefully without damaging it) you'll smell a sulphurous smell. Volcanic rock is pretty hard. If it crumbles then it's more likely to be pottery.

I’ve never taken a hammer to any pots before .....

Yeh, what could possibly go wrong

Might be a medieval post-hole where the lime morter has been left after the post rotted away

I think you could be on the right track, Naomi. My initial thought was pumice, but that is formed by lava that has been fired high into the air and solidified before it hits the ground, so it doesn't tend to contain stones as Ben's piece does.
With it being on a plinth I'd guess at it being an archeologist's souvenir piece from a dig.
Ben, just out of interest, does the hole go right through the piece?

It does look like pumice but browner than the pumice I have seen. Looks a bit like slag from something like metal working. The hole goes part way - maybe a core drilled out.
So it looks like it might not be a major art piece. Could try the hammer.