Taisho-period Japanese Lacquered Miso Soup Bowl

This traditional bowl, designed for serving miso soup, is made of Japanese urushi lacquer in a deep, particularly glossy black. The lid is adorned with a delicate asymmetrical design created using the maki-e technique (gold powder applied to fresh lacquer).

The motif depicts a stylized seascape. It features traditional sailboats sailing near pine trees (matsu), a symbol of longevity in Japanese art. The design stands out against a pattern of fine horizontal gold lines evoking a body of water or mist. The interior of the bowl and the underside of the lid feature a smooth, unadorned black lacquered surface, highlighting the quality of the material.

The object is distinguished by its extreme lightness, a characteristic of a finely hand-turned wooden core, typical of high-quality lacquerware from this period.

Technical Specifications

• Type: Lidded bowl (miso soup)

• Materials: Ultra-lightweight wooden core, black urushi lacquer, gold-powder decoration (maki-e)

• Period: Taisho Period (1912–1926)

• Dimensions: Diameter: 12 cm | Total height (with lid): 9 cm

• Weight: 110 g

ConditionVery good overall condition. The lacquer retains an excellent sheen, and the gold decoration is well preserved.