The listing, ASIAN BRUSHWASHER WITH DRAGON!!!! has ended.
This is a spectacular Asian Antique Brushwasher , hand carved from a large piece of bamboo!! I would say it's most likely from Japan, and it is the largest brushwasher I have ever seen! These were meant to clean brushes as the mater calligrapher painted. This obviously belonged to someone quite important to be the size it is!! Most stand about 6 to 9 inches tall! This is from an extraordinarily large piece of bamboo, too! The carving is amazing! The Dragon swirls around the whole piece! The condition is good, except the hole worn through the middle (see pic 5) so if you want to use it for calligraphy a vessel or vase can be fitted inside(it can also be used for flowers if water is put in carefully!.Another idea I had (since it already has a hole) is to run an electric wire(lamp kit) through it , put a thick ,cut o size , piece of cork, wood or even brass or copper over the top , and a round wooden or marble or meta;l base on the bottom, and Wow!! What a fantastic lamp it wood make!! Many hardware stores do wire lamps, or they sell do it yourself kits.(My mother made one from a Ming vase ,it came out great!). Any questions? Please just ask!!