Compact Antique Chinese Wooden Basin With Iron Bands

Details

Description

This antique Chinese wooden basin is constructed from thick, hand-hewn staves bound with forged iron bands, creating a form that … Read more This antique Chinese wooden basin is constructed from thick, hand-hewn staves bound with forged iron bands, creating a form that is both functional and powerfully sculptural. The surface shows deep, richly developed patina from decades of use, with warm brown tones in the wood offset by the darkened, irregular finish of the iron.

It is notably compact in scale, making it well suited for display on a console, shelf, or low table.

Basins of this type were traditionally used in domestic and workshop settings, where durability mattered more than refinement. Over time, that honest construction has become the basin’s defining quality. The iron bands not only reinforce the structure but give the piece a strong architectural rhythm, while the wear patterns and surface variation speak to long-term, everyday use.

Today, the basin works beautifully as a decorative object — placed on a low table, console, or shelf — where its material weight and texture can be fully appreciated. It also functions well as a catchall or styled vessel, particularly in interiors that favor wabi-sabi, rustic modern, or collected Asian decorative arts.

Details

Origin: China
Period: Late 19th to early 20th century
Materials: Carved wood with hand-forged iron bands
Finish: Naturally aged patina

Condition: Solid antique condition with visible wear consistent with age and use; no structural instability noted

A compelling example of Chinese utilitarian craftsmanship, valued today for its form, surface, and quiet presence rather than ornament. See less