A BAMBOO SHO (TRADITIONAL WIND INSTRUMENT). Japan, circa 1900, length 44 cm. Free-reed instrument used in Japanese court music (gagaku) consisting of 17 bamboo pipes of varying length bound with a metal ring and with one end in a wooden wind chamber into which air is blown through a short mouthpiece. This part is lacquered with a splendid phoenix in hiramakie on black lacquer ground with nashji. * The full tax is charged on this item marked * in the auction catalogue, i.e. VAT is charged on the sum of the bid price plus the surcharge for those items. The VAT will be refunded to Purchasers providing a validly stamped export declaration. ------------------------------------------------- MOUTH ORGAN (SHO). Japan, around 1900, l 44 cm. Traditional musical instrument used in Japanese court music (gagaku), consisting of 17 bamboo tubes of different lengths held together by a metal ring, the ends of which are inserted into a wooden wind chamber. Air is blown into the interior through a short mouthpiece. A magnificent phφnix in hiramakie on black lacquer with nashiji decorates the end part. These objects marked with * (asterisk) are fully subject to VAT, i.e. VAT is charged on the hammer price plus surcharge for these objects. Buyers who present a legally stamped export declaration will receive a refund of the VAT.