Artmink

Chinese Folk Style Coin‑Motif Elm and Brass Wooden Basin (Wash/Foot Basin)

中国民间风格 镶古钱纹榆木与黄铜木质洗脚盆/洗盆

By: Unknown workshop

Style: Chinese folk decorative arts, mid-20th century vernacular

Origin: China

Materials: Elm or similar hardwood body with vertical wooden/bamboo staves; cast brass/bronze coin-motif medallions; pigmented/lacquered finish

Age: circa 1950–1970

Condition: Good (surface wear, rim nicks and abrasions, minor finish losses; structurally sound)

Value: $60–$120 (auction)

Maker's Marks / Writing: No maker’s mark observed. Decorative medallions depict Chinese cash-coin inscriptions (various ‘—通寶’ legends; ‘通寶’ readable, other characters possibly 乾/咸/光, not fully legible).

Date: 2025-09-08 22:51:30.997105

Description:

An oval, low wooden basin with a lobed rim, each lobe inset with a round cast ‘cash coin’ medallion in relief. The interior is made from closely set vertical wooden/bamboo staves; the exterior shows remnants of red/green pigment. The rim is built from segmented sections forming a petal outline around the oval mouth. The coin motifs symbolize prosperity and longevity and emulate Qing dynasty cash coins. Likely made as a decorative wash/foot basin rather than a food vessel.     一只椭圆形低矮木盆，口沿呈花瓣状分段而成，每一瓣嵌有一枚圆形“古钱”浮雕饰片。内壁为密排的木/竹直片构成，外壁可见红、绿色颜料残留。口沿由若干拼接木块组成，勾勒出花瓣形的椭圆开口。所用钱纹寓意招财与长寿，仿效清代铜钱。此盆更可能为装饰性洗脚盆/洗盆用途，而非食器。

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

This appears to be a mid-20th century Chinese decorative wooden basin embellished with cast medallions imitating Qing cash coins. The coins seem to be solid plaques (not actual pierced coins), and the overall construction and finish suggest a later folk/decorative piece rather than a Qing-period household tub. Attractive as decor with good folk charm, but not a high-value antique. A word about fakes.. Coin-decorated Chinese objects are commonly reproduced; be cautious of claims of Qing dynasty age unless construction details (tool marks, hand-forged hardware, irregular wear) clearly support it.     此件应为20世纪中期（约1950–1970年）中国民间装饰木盆，嵌有仿清代铜钱纹的铸造圆形饰片。所见“钱”应为实心饰片而非带方孔的真币，再加之整体的工艺与表面处理，更接近后期民间/装饰性用品，而非清代日常木盆。其装饰效果佳、民艺气息浓，但并非高价值古董。A word about fakes.. 带“古钱”装饰的中国器物极多仿品与翻造品；若无传统工艺痕迹（如手工工具痕、手锻五金、不规则自然磨损等）支撑，不宜断作清代老物件。

Individual Images:

whole item

Provenance:

No provenance provided.

Condition:

Good (surface wear, rim nicks and abrasions, minor finish losses; structurally sound)

Identification Score: 85%

Form (oval, lobed rim), staved interior, and repeated cash-coin medallions are characteristic of Chinese folk basins and tubs. Materials and decorative vocabulary strongly indicate China rather than Japan or Southeast Asia.     器形（椭圆、花瓣口沿）、直片拼合的内壁结构，以及重复出现的铜钱纹饰，均与中国民间木盆相符；材料与装饰语言也明显指向中国而非日本或东南亚。

Authenticity Score: 35%

Likely a later decorative example: coin plaques look machine-cast and solid (not real pierced coins), wear appears uniform, and the segmented rim and pigmented exterior are typical of mid-20th-century workshop products. Without underside/hardware views, a cautious, low authenticity score is appropriate.     较可能为后期装饰品：钱纹饰片呈实心机铸状态（非带方孔的真币），磨损较为均匀，分段口沿与外壁彩绘更符合20世纪中期作坊制品特征。缺少底面与五金细节照片，故保持谨慎并给出较低真品概率评分。

Image Memory Note

Single photo of an oval, low-profile wooden basin resting on a quilted dark blanket. The rim is lobed like flower petals (approximately ten lobes visible) and segmented; each lobe contains a round metal medallion with raised Chinese cash-coin design. The medallions appear solid without central square perforations, suggesting cast plaques rather than actual coins. Interior is composed of tightly spaced vertical staves (wood or bamboo), stained a warm brown with lighter edges. Exterior shows faint vertical red and green striping/pigment remains. The rim has visible joints between segments and light edge wear with small nicks; one joint line runs across a lobe. No handles or hardware visible. No maker’s mark on the wood. Inscriptions: on several medallions, the four-character pattern typical of Qing coins is visible, with ‘通寶’ (tongbao) clearly legible on the right side of some; the reign titles are indistinct but could include characters resembling 乾, 咸, or 光. Condition issues: general surface rubbing, minor abrasions along rim edges, light grime in crevices; no cracks or major losses visible from this angle. Overall dimensions not provided.     单张照片：一只椭圆形、低矮的木盆置于深色绗缝织物上。口沿呈花瓣状分段，约可见十瓣，每瓣内嵌一枚圆形金属饰片，饰片为中国铜钱纹浮雕。饰片看似为实心铸件，未见中间方孔，疑为仿币饰片而非真币。内壁由密集的竖向片材（木或竹）拼合而成，棕色调，边缘略浅。外壁可见红、绿色竖向彩绘残留。口沿各段之间可见拼接缝，边缘有轻微磨损与小磕。未见把手或五金。木材上未发现作者或作坊款识。文字：多枚饰片上可见清代钱式的四字格，右侧“通寶”清晰可辨，年号字迹不清，疑似含“乾”“咸”或“光”等字。品相：整体表面使用痕迹与摩擦，口沿处轻微磕碰与擦伤，缝隙处有积尘；未见明显裂缝或大面积缺失。本件尺寸未知。

Keywords

Chinese, folk art, coin motif, cash coin, wooden basin, foot bath, wash basin, elm, brass inlay, mid-20th century, China     中国, 民间工艺, 古钱纹, 铜钱纹, 木盆, 洗脚盆, 洗盆, 榆木, 黄铜镶嵌, 20世纪中期, 中国

Report ID:  : atjftg

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