Artwork preview

Ritual Wash Basin (Ashitsuki-darai)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows a large, shallow, round wooden bowl. The bowl has a wide mouth and a flat bottom. It sits on three curved legs. The legs are shaped like a curved scroll with a rounded end. The bowl is made of wood and has a reddish-brown color. It appears to be lacquered. There are two horizontal black lines around the bowl, one near the top and one near the bottom. The background is a gradient from dark gray at the top to light gray at the bottom. The bowl is centered in the image and casts a shadow on the surface below it. The overall style of the bowl suggests it is a Ritual Wash Basin, also known as an Ashitsuki-darai.

Artwork Details

Date
16th century
Medium
Wood with coatings of red over black lacquer (Negoro ware) and exposed zelkova wood
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
600 × 450 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette