A fine Edo period black lacquer sake pot (choshi.) The ivy (Tsuta) mon in allover decoration in gold lacquer on the pot and cover. Intricate flowering 'karakusa' vine decoration on the handle. The discus-form pot with flat topped spout and hinged handle and raised on three ball feet. The round cover fitting snugly to the pot and with double flower finial (the two blooms joined facing one another to form a gadrooned sphere) on a 21 petal chrysanthemum boss both with details picked out beautifully in gold lacquer. The interior of the pot with a slightly glossier black lacquer with a faintly dark brown cast. The ivy mon was used as a family crest (or coat of arms) for Samurai clans - most notably the Matsudaira. Formerly using the hollyhock mon, the Matsudaira were required to change when the Tokugawa Shogunate (beginning in 1603) reserved the hollyhock mon for their exclusive use ('Mon - The Japanese Family Crest', Hawley and Chappelear, 1976.) A 17th century choshi of the same form with ornamental and decoration differences is pictured in color plate 237 of "The Shaping of Daimyo Culture" (ed. Yoshiaki Shimizu, 1988). There does not seem to be comparable examples commonly available on the market. Lacquer sake pots could be part of a larger dowry trousseau of household, vanity and scholar articles and may have been used in the opening ceremony of a wedding. Such trousseaus (particularly articles with gold decoration) were reserved for families of rank and the number of items in a bridal trousseau were limited relative to the family's station by official decree ('Japanese Weddings in the Edo Period - 1615–1868', Monika Bincsik, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2009.) Excellent condition for the age - we estimate circa 1800. The good state of the choshi, with the most minor wear to surface, is such that the care of a conservationist is not really needed in any way and perhaps all the better without the disturbance. One tiny small polished, patinated copper boss (one of four such ornaments on the two handle supports) is missing (see 5th illustration.) The interior surface (completely out of site when covered) with some plausible distress from prior use - crease-like open wrinkles (see 7th illustration.) Of course one would not reasonably use the pot again so these do not at all distract from the aesthetic value of the pot or its soundness. Total length from tip of spout is 8 3/8 inches (21.27cm). Diameter of the pot (exclusive of the spout) is 6 1/4 inches (15.88cm). Height to top of finial 3 3/4 inches (9.53cm). The handle extends higher (pivots loosely on the supports - we balanced in 'up' position for our pictures.)

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