An inlaid iron rectangular vessel and en-suite cover


Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th centuryInlaid in flat silver and gold overlay with a tight repeated geometric lozenge patterns, two sides decorated along the bottom with ferns, the shoulder and handles scattered with cherry blossoms, the cover similarly inlaid and surmounted by a bronze finial in the form of a seated shishimai dancer, resting one hand on a large shishi mask with a kitsune mask propped on his head, the whole raised on four tall lappet feet, the sides applied with two upswept split slab handles; unsigned. 22.2cm (8¾in) high. (2).