Dou Rice Measure

This rustic container is a traditional vessel used to measure and hold a dou of rice, an ancient Chinese unit of volume. The rice measure has a squared form with tapered sides, handcrafted of pine and seamed with thin sawtooth joints. A curved handle arches gently over the basket, burnished smooth by the touch of many hands over the sides. The wooden bucket has a dark brown finish, with light fading towards the base, timeworn imperfections and traces of hand-painted characters.