Edo Period Towel Rack

Towel holder -Taoru Tenugu Kake- from the ASANO family, with the family crests "Chigai-Takanoha mon" and "Maru-ni-sasa-rindo mon". These two crests are intended for the family branch of the Asano clan in Hiroshima. The Asano clan was one of the powerful samurai clans descended from the Minamoto clan and Emperor Seiwa (850-881). The main lineage was the lords (Daimyo) of Hiroshima-han (Hiroshima domain) in Aki-no-kuni province. The towel holder is black lacquered with gold lacquer mons. Its storage box is original and bears labels for the Hiroshima exhibition in Hawaii which took place before the Second World War. Many Japanese immigrants went to Hawaii during the Meiji period. Very important historical piece. EDO period The labels on the box indicate: Hiroshima Asano family towel holder, number 336, type dismantling and exhibition from Hiroshima to Hawaii.