Antique Japanese Edo Era (c1850) Pair of Lacquer Makie Wooden Lidded Soup/Rice Bowl

This is an antique Japanese late Edo Era (c. 1850) gold and red lacquer lidded bowl. It was hand turned from cryptomeria wood with over twenty layers of red lacquer. On top of the red lacquer there is a makie (raised gold lacquer) design of chrysanthemum). Both lid and bowl have gold trim. Japanese lacquer is considered the finest in the world. This type of bowl was often used for soup or rice.

Having been in storage for over a century, and looking like it was used very sparingly, this lidded bowl remains in good polish and in very good condition. There are a few minor losses to the red lacquer most notably on the rim (see pictures 5 &6). It measures 5" in diameter by 4" tall (10 cm).

Guaranteed to be in excess of 140 years in age.