Washbasin・Stand
Mid-Edo period (18C)
Purchased / Museum’s own collection
This is part of a wedding (or bridal) set, which is said to have been prepared for the marriage of Sakai Tadayori (1705-1766), the fifth lord of the Shōnai domain, and Chōhime, the adopted daughter of Maeda Tsunanori, the fifth lord of the Kaga domain. It is adorned with the crests of the Sakai and Maeda families, the wood sorrel (‘Katabami-mon’) and plum blossom (‘Umebachi-mon’) respectively.
The lacquered washbasin with ear-shaped handles (mimidarai, literally ‘ear-like basin or tub’) was used by women as part of their teeth blackening practice. It was placed on a stand (plinth block) called a rin-dai, or a dai-rin in reverse.