DIA260xH480mm, China
This lacquered water bucket is part of the bridal dowry of a Chinese wedding. The basic dowry list for bucket section would include a foot a water bucket, a foot washing basin and a chamber pot. The list for a well off family would go up to more than 20 items. All these items have in common is that they are all lacquered in red and structurally formed like a barrel, segments of circular planks tightened together by a piece of metal. The bucket artisan used to be a very popular trade, making every day use items, repairs and of course the dowry items, but as China became industrialized now there is only a handful of old artisan left.
Mountain Folkcraft 