Oval sugar basin by James Ker, Edinburgh, 1734 - 1735, part of a silver tea service made for Charles Hope, first Earl of Hopetoun

Silver toilet basin with a hemispherical bowl set on a stepped moulded foot, by Thomas Ker, Edinburgh, 1706 - 1707, made for Charles Hope, first Earl of Hopetoun

Mortar-like stone vessel forming a small basin, formerly believed capable of effecting miraculous cures, from Cladh Chrisoid, Harris, Inverness-shire

Sugar basin, electroplate, part of the 'Pride' tea service: English, Sheffield, by Walker and Hall, designed by David Mellor, 1959

Silver baptismal basin with a wide rim with simple edge mouldings and two bands of wriggle-work decoration, and deep, lobed bowl with an elaborate central raised part-gilt boss inside, from Trinity College Church, Edinburgh, by Thomas Kirkwood, George Crawfurd, deacon, Edinburgh, 1633 - 1635

Copper alloy washing basin with a flat circular base and sides rising sharply at an angle: Ancient Egyptian, Old Kingdom, c.2686 - 2160 BC

Basin of stoneware with a dark chocolate glaze, the surface reticulated with furrows: Japan

Shaving basin of porcelain in Kakiemon style, with underglaze blue and painted in overglaze enamels with flowers and blossom sprays: Japan, Arita, 1700-1740s

Water basin (yusamashi) of grey stoneware with a crackled cream glaze, with an irregular rim, with design of quails and millet, Satsuma ware, by Sansetsu: Japan, 19th century

Rinsing basin (haisen) of stoneware with a semi-opaque glaze and painted with maple leaves in enamel colours and glaze: Japan, Owari Province, Inuyama, c. 1830 - 1880

Basin and cover of bronze, oval with two of the three feet formed by a dragon, the sides with leaves in low relief, and the cover with a dragon in relief and surmounted by a statuette: Japan, by Terada Seifusai, late 19th century

Porcelain basin with a white glaze, with decoration of a carp leaping the falls of Longmen and inscription on rim incised through glaze: China, Ming Dynasty, probably 16th century

Basin of blue and white porcelain decorated with a river scene and gilt bands: China, Qing dynasty, gilt in England, late 18th century

Basin cover of blue and white porcelain decorated with a river scene and gilt bands: China, Qing dynasty, gilt in England, late 18th century

Basin of glazed earthenware, painted with Chinese figures and flowers in bright blue: Middle East, Iran, 16th or 17th century AD

Basin of glazed earthenware, blue outside, and painted inside with imitation Chinese decoration in bluish black: Middle East, Iran, 16th century AD