Washbowl with leather cover

A brass portable Washbowl with associated beech Tripod Stand.

The bowl has a leather cover with belt strap to its edge to tighten it under the bowl's rim. The cover had the benefit of containing items stored in the bowl as well as providing a carrying handle. The simulated bamboo stand folds to form a tripod base, with a taller leg for hanging a towel, or closes to form a stick. This clever form of hinge was also used for folding tripod stools.

The leather case has shipping labels for the passenger Clementi Smith who sailed on the P&O Line from Bombay to Plymouth. The ship's name is partially covered but looks to be the S.S. Rawalpindi, built in 1925 and sunk in 1939 during WWII. The owner was Brigadier Hubert Clementi Smith (1878-1958) who had a distinguished career in the Royal Engineers and Signals. He fought in the Boer War and First World War, when he was mentioned in dispatches 4 times. The DSO was just one of his many awards. The shipping labels probably relate to his time as Signal Officer at Army HQ, India between 1930 and 1934. Both the bowl and stand are likely to be earlier than this date and it's possible were bought at the start of his army career. The ship made a number of trips to India and it would fit in with a returning soldier. Early 20th Century.

Size for use is given.