A PAIR OF LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE JAPANESE ARITA LACQUERED VASES EDO PERIOD, 1690-1720 The bulbous bodies decorated in underglaze blue with cloud-shaped panels of dense foliage and peony flowers, with large gilded lacquer areas enclosing many prancing shishi , the lion dogs depicted in a variety of poses, with branches of bamboo and flowers above them and on a cell diaper ground, the necks with a lacquer border decorated with coiling dragons and shachihoko (dragon fish), 60cm and 59cm respectively. (2) Cf. O Impey, Japanese Export Porcelain, Catalogue of the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, p.119, no.151, for a jar of similar shape and underglaze blue painting lacking its lacquer decoration.