RARE LACQUER COVERED JUG, Japan, Edo period, mid-17th century Standing on a circular foot, the lower part of the body ribbed with gold hiramiki-e decoration of flowers the upper part decorated with perched birds, cherry trees and bamboo, the foot lacquered with phoenixes and flowers, the lid repeating the decoration of flowers and surmounted by a grip in the shape of a cherry tree trunk, the interior gold nashiji; the spout reduced, minor restorations and small chips Height: 19 cm (7 ¼ in.) A rare lacquered ewer and cover, Japan, Edo period, half of 17th century A very similar but larger jug dated 1640-1690 is in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem (inv. E 83560 a) (fifig.1), while another dated 17th century is in the Herzog Anton-Ulrich Museum in Braunschweig (inv. Nr. OA Lac 736) (fifig.2), both of which are illustrated in Japanese Export Lacquer, 1580-1850, Olivier Impey & Christiaan Jörg, 2005, p. 162 and 163, pl. 374 and 376b. A very similar but larger ewer dated 1640-1690 is in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem (inv. E 83560 a) (fifig.1), another one from the 17th century is in the Herzog Anton Ulrich- Museum in Braunschweig (inv. Nr. OA Lac 736) (fifig.2), both of them are illustrated in Japanese Export Lacquer, 1580-1850, Olivier Impey & Christiaan Jörg, 2005, p. 162 and 163, pl. 374 and 376b.