This is a suiban (shallow container) with the inscription "Made in the Year of Daming Xuande". The sides are adorned with carvings depicting ancient landscapes (sea, trees, temples, boats), as well as figures. It's a very rare design for a suiban. Suiban is a bronze shallow container of the finest quality used for displaying ikebana and flower arrangements. It is made in Japan. "Made in the Year of Daming Xuande" refers to the inscription found on bronze items created during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty (1426-1435) in China. Emperor Xuanzong established a foundry in 1428, importing brass from Siam (modern-day Thailand) and red copper from Japan to produce an alloy called "Xuande bronze" by adding lead to copper. Various bronze items were cast using this Xuande bronze. Since Xuande bronze itself became synonymous with bronze items, those bearing the inscription "Made in the Year of Daming Xuande" are considered authentic. Width 43.7 cm Depth 24.9 cm Height 10.8 cm Weight 4250 g Condition: The condition is good for its age. Signs of wear from age, stains and scratches. Signs of wear from age, stains, scratches and chips; for condition, please, take a look at the pictures. Please take a look at the numerous photos for more details. Atention: The items listed for sale are all used collectibles. Please consider them to have signs of aging, such as stains, scratches, scuffs, tears, discoloration, fading, fraying, and changes in thread color. We will post as many photos as possible to make it easy to understand. As these are old items, we appreciate your understanding before making a purchase. Shipping: The lot will be carefully packaged and shipped from Japan. We will use either DHL or FedEx for a safe and secure transportation. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks for delivery, and the package will be shipped with a tracking number. Import duties, taxes, VAT, and any other charges are not included in the item price and shipping cost. Please check your country's import duties before bidding. 041223000509