The ewer was used to pour water for washing the hands and face into the basin. Records from the Heian period indicate that the shape hardly changed at all until the early modern period. These pieces are particularly valuable because they have been passed down as a set. Both pieces are black lacquer. The flanks are decorated with chrysanthemum, Chinese bellflower, Patrinia, Dianthus, pampas grass, bush clover and other autumn flowers executed in hiramaki-e goldwork, harigaki engraving, and e-nashiji, use of the nashiji or pearskin technique of sprinkling the surface with coarse gold flakes, to create motifs. An ornamental border encircles the foot on both pieces. Metal fittings with arabesque on a nanakoji background, so named for its resemblance to fish roe, are mounted on the handles of the four-handled basin and the spout of the ewer.
Search by title, artist, place, style or other key words
2025 January
2025 February
2025 March
2025 April
2025 May
2025 June
2025 July
2025 August
2025 September
2025 October
2025 November
2025 December
2026 January
2026 February
2026 March
2026 April
2026 May
2026 June
2026 July
2026 August
2026 September
2026 October
2026 November
2026 December