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Lot 312

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Lot 312 · Porcelain · ⌀ ~7.5 cm酒器・茶器

UNIQUE SET OF 16 COMMEMORATIVE GUARDS SAKAZUKI CUPS

Master Izawa. Imperial Japan, early Showa period (1930s–1940s)

Thin-walled porcelain; overglaze polychrome painting, hand gilding.

Estimate

180 000 – 240 000 ₽

  • Set or pair
  • Named master
  • Collection highlight
Dimensions

quantity — 16 pieces, diameter of each cup c. 7.5 cm.

Description

A historical set of exceptional completeness and rarity: 16 commemorative guards' sake cups, sakazukiSakazuki 杯 — a ceremonial flat sake cup in the form of a wide saucer on a small foot. Historically used for ceremonies and for military and commemorative awards. (in the form of flat saucers). On the centre of the cups, calligraphic inscriptions in detail indicate their belonging to the elite 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Guard of Japan. The painted subject includes the crossed flags of the Japanese Empire and of the Army in a frame of oak branches and blooming cherry, with abundant gilding.

Marks

The base of each piece bears the master's hand-painted underglaze cobalt signature — Izawa (伊沢).

Provenance and packaging

The set is supplied in an authentic wartime packing box that formerly held imported Norwegian cod liver oil (S. Ito's Cod Liver Oil), with its paper insert preserved. The lid of the box bears a set of original wartime ink markings with the owner's surname “Izawa”, the name of the object in characters, “Sake cups” (酒盃), and a duplicate inscription in hiragana, written right to left —

“Sakazuki” (さかづき).

A lot of museum and the highest collector's level.

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