A JAPANESE LACQUER FOUR-HANDLED WASHBASIN

A JAPANESE LACQUER FOUR-HANDLED WASHBASIN, TSUNODARAI EDO 1615-1868 The circular wood body decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e with twisted wisteria mon on a black lacquer ground, raised on a short foot with scrolling foliage, the handles with shakudo nanako metal mounts with stylised flowers and further mon, 22cm x 44cm x 65cm. Provenance: from the collection of Michael Pitt-Rivers (1917-1999), by repute. This washbasin was probably part of a konrei chodo, a lady's lacquer toilet set traditionally offered at weddings.