An elegant set of red lacquered 9-piece nest of sakazuki (sake saucer cups). The lacquered cups with unique designs of auspicious bird and flora pairings, like: cranes and turtles, with plum trees, bamboo vine, pine trees. Rendered in hiramaki-e 平蒔絵 (low-relief lacquer design) and takamaki-e 高蒔絵 (high-relief lacquer design) in shades of gold, silver and red on a vibrant crimson red ground. This is the traditional set up of sake saucer cups used only on for example New Year's celebrations, as compared to regular use. This being the case the cups especially are in excellent condition, likely hardly ever used. The stand has some minor blemishes but is in very good condition too. Please look at the photos for a condition reference. Dimensions: The cups range from very large (Ø 24 cm!) to a regular small cup (Ø 8.5 cm). Height cups stacked together: 16 cm Period: Japan – Taishô period (1912-1926) The set comes with a wooden tomobako storage box.