Maybe,the maid of princess used this during Edo period,the authority said.

Towel hunger

  The left was the "towel hunger" used in Kaga clan,present-Ishikawa,Toyama,Fukui and Shiga pref during Edo period.Before I predicted that this furniture used by the princess of Kaga clan because "towel hunger" was one of the bridal furniture for the princess of "Daimyo",the Japanese feudal lord.The lord of Kaga clan was Maeda family who was No2 power next to Tokugawa shogunate in Edo,present-Tokyo.

Maeda family crest

 On this hunger the family crest of Kaga clan was painted with "Makie", the gold lacquer work.Their crest was called "Ken-Umebachi" which designed "Ume" and "Small-sword". Maybe this furniture was made at the end of Edo period,150-200 years back.
 2 days ago I have got the letter from "Maeda ikutoku kai" which is the authority of Maeda family and manages the treasure of Maeda family in Tokyo.Incidentally Tokyo univ was the trace of the residence of Maeda family in Edo,Tokyo.

  According to their research about this furniture,it might be used by the maid who took care of the princess of Maeda family.This authority analyzed "Kanji - letter" written with a vermilion sign on the wooden-case.

 At the end of Edo period,the 13th and 14th lord of Kaga clan had governed here.They married with Tokugawa family, daimyo, noble,emperor and so on to strengthen their power. "Fumimaro Konoe" ,the famous prime minsiter in Japan,was the grandson of 14th lord.That is to say,his mother and stepmother were 2 princesses of 14th lord.Therefore this furniture was the maid of mother of "Fumimaro Konoe".

 Please look at the above picture.The 3rd person from the left was 79th prime minister, just 25 years back, "Morihiro Hosokawa". He is the grandson of "Fumimaro Konoe". and just the present head of the Hosokawa family.Our ancestor was the branch of "Hosokawa family".