Japan, visually attractive grouping of three carved, antique stone basins “natsume”, tallest 80cm, 32” high, Meiji to -Showa period, (1900-1940s).

The handsome and well proportioned trio hand-carved in a form known as natsume (tea canister shape) fashioned in solid granite stone and featuring varied patina from age. Extraordinary works of art for extraordinary gardens. Quintessential Japanese planter form ready for your flowers, hanging vines, or superb water features. Fine condition.

Please see photographs of numerous ways you can display and decorate these quintessential Japanese stone basins using succulent plantings,colored stones, or as beautiful simple serene water features.

In Japan, a tsukubai is a stone washbasin usually located at entrance to shrines, temples or tea gardens so visitors may purify themselves by ritual hand washing and rinsing of ones mouth. This type of ritual cleansing is the custom for guests attending a tea ceremony or visiting the grounds of a Buddhist temple. The name originates from the verb tsukubau meaning to bow down, an act of humility.

Individual antique stone basins Natsume are also available please contact us.

Provenance: Japanese garden, Nagoya, Japan

History:
Water basins tsukubai are singularly the most popular, frequent and practical garden ornament found in Japanese gardens. They symbolize Buddhist “purification” and are usually strategically placed in gardens or as an indoor entry tokanoma accent to allow visitors opportunity to cleanse hands prior to participating in a tea ceremony event or before honoring a shrine or temple. These kinds welcome visitors to stop and bow in a respectful, humble manner to perform purification of “body and soul” ritual.

Schneible Fine Arts has been dealing in authentic Japanese and Chinese antiquities, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. Mr. Schneible personally travels to China and Japan each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity, and quality condition. After accumulating a group, they are imported to Vermont and Maine in large containers. This method keeps shipping costs low and enables us to offer them to you at reasonable prices. We carefully pack and ship to clients all-over the USA and at reasonable shipping costs.

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity: All of our Asian works of art come with our “Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee.”

We are members of the North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) specializing for ten years now in old and authentic Japanese stone garden ornaments.