re: Shaping the Base

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, guys.   I have thought about adding a chamfer to the bottom edge to lighten the look from side, and I may still do that.  I want to wait until I see how stable the base is with all the hardware installed before I do anything that would reduce the diameter of the base at the floor.

Ron & Splinter - I could add some additional profiling as you've mentioned, and I think it would have the desired effect.  However, I am trying not to depart too much from the original design, which had a very basic-looking base (except maybe for the circular brass plate under the staves, which I'm not doing).  

Ty - No doubt, a turned base would be the way to go.   Given my lack of lathe experience, I just didn't want to risk botching the job on the base and having to start it over again.  The base and staves won't be glued together, so I could always turn a new base in the future if I wanted to. (Probably never happen. 😆)