Beschreibung:

By the Komai Company of Kyoto, Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century Decorated with gold nunome damascene overlay and silver details, the flattened-spherical body with a tall foot resting on a stand with four lobed feet, silvered elephant-head handles to either side each with a pendant chain including lobed floral ornaments and a bell-like finial, the hemispherical cover surmounted by a shishi (Chinese mythological lion dog), each side of the body with a silver-rimmed lobed panel, on one side a night scene of a seated Buddhist monk/samurai with his armour chest and tachi behind him, writing brush in hand, facing a helmet-less samurai also holding writing materials, behind them a nomaku (field curtain) emblazoned with three Uesugi-sasa mon (Bamboo-and-sparrow crests, see below) and an overhanging pine tree, the scene illuminated by two kagari (braziers), on the other side a related scene, in a different location, of two samurai in mortal combat, scattered sakazuki (sake cups) at their feet, one holding a long yari which the other parries with his left hand while brandishing a tachi in his right, the surrounding surfaces with typical Komai dense ground decoration including ho-o birds, peony scrolls, key fret, floral medallions, birds and creepers, vine leaves and scrolls, chrysanthemum mon (crests), katabami mon (woodsorrel crests), butterflies and other motifs, signed underneath in gold in seal form Nihonkoku Kyoto no ju Komai sei (Manufactured by Komai of Kyoto in Japan). 17.5cm x 12cm x 29cm (6 7/8in x 4¾in x 11 7/16in). (2).