A LACQUERED AND GILT WOOD AND METAL BASIN
Japan, Edo period, 17th century

Circular section, the basin supported by a base covered with gilded metal incised with vegetal motifs, horizontal and shaped handles on two sides, the whole surface with a 'pear skin' ground (nashiji) on which a fine maki-e decoration of cranes, turtles, pine trees, bamboo, orange trees and a coat of arms (kamon) in the shape of a stylized flower (umebachi).
32 x 27 x 15 cm

Provenance: Italian private collection.

This kind of container is known with the term mimidarai due to the characteristic shape of the handles that resembles ears. It was mainly used in the practice of blackening of the teeth (ohaguro), in vogue since very ancient times in Japan. The coat of arms that appears several times on its surface can be associated with the Maeda clan.