Japanese WW II Grouping:Imperial Army Red Sake Cup & China Incident Medal + Case

Description

Houghton USA
Ancient Art, Antiques, & Fine Collectables
Japanese Red Lacquer
China Incident
Cup & War Medal
WW II Cryptomeria Wood Sake Cup & Cased War Medal
China Incident War Memorial; 16th Division
c. 1945
This auction is for two WW II Japanese Imperial Items that commemorate the Japanese invasion of China (referred to as the "China Incident)
A fabulous RED Lacquer Sake Cup with inscription and Gold Star;
And the matching China Incident War Medal in its original case.
Both were made by skilled artist during Japan's WW II Period under Emperor
Hirohito--the Showa Emperor
.
The Japanese believed that drinking Sake was one of the finer pleasures in life, and thus the small cups used to drink Sake should be as beautiful and interesting as possible.  This extremely fine example does not disappoint with over 20 coats of refined Japanese "
urushi
" lacquer over a hand-turned, cryptomeria wood cup that is as light as a feather and weighs only 16 grams or .6 ounces!
The very small Sake cup measures
approximately
3.59" (91 mm) in diameter x 1.16" (29 mm) high.
The Gold art work on this Japanese Victory Party Cup's inner surface is still in Excellent condition.  I'm told the 13 characters on the underside of the cup's rim
it has Japanese calligraphy, reading "Shina jihen jūgun kinen; Dai 16 shidan" [China Incident War Memorial; 16th Division]
This amazing art work is done with the finest of brushes and the raised gold lacquer design (called "Makie") is beautifully applied over the crimson color of the Sake cup and also to the edge of the cup's rim and base.
This Sake Cup is in Excellent condition with no cracks or splits of any kind in the wood or lacquer.
It does have some very minor wear on the rim of the sake cup, but for being over 75 years old, it is in truly remarkable condition and displays very well.
CASED 1937-1945 CHINA INCIDENT WAR MEDAL
This medal, established in 1939 and awarded to Japanese soldiers departing for service in the undeclared “war” against China (hence, "Incident"), is in its original case and still has its original ribbon.
The 1 3/16" diameter bronze medal features, to its obverse, the mythical giant crow "
yata-no-karasu
," flanked by two Rising Sun flags (for the Army and Navy), whose upwardly-stretched wings encompass a sixteen-pedaled, Imperial Chrysanthemum, with radiating lines as the backdrop.
To its reverse are three stylized mountains above, and stylized water beneath, a cloud bank, against which is a row of four kanji characters, translating to "
China Incident
." The swiveling hanger connected to the top of the medal features abstract foliage as its pattern, and is itself connected to a swiveling, horizontal bar, through which the ribbon passes.
The face of the bar is embossed a row of four kanji characters, translating to "
War Medal
." The 1 7/16" wide, watered silk ribbon has a narrow, vertical red stripe to its center, flanked by wider pink stripes, then even wider stripes in yellow, then narrow light blue, and, to its outside edges, narrow navy blue stripes. These represent, respectively, loyalty, the blood-stained soil of China, the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. An elongated, vertical alloy hook is to its top, which folds down and mates with an alloy eye sewn near the base of its reverse.
This War Medal has been in storage for the last 75 years and both the medal and ribbon remain in excellent condition. This medal was awarded until the summer of 1945, and was abolished in 1946.
The medal and ribbon are nested into corresponding depressions to the navy blue flocked interior base of its original presentation case, whose concave interior lid is lined in brown leatherette. The flocking is lightly to moderately age and usage soiled. The exterior of the 2 3/8" x 4 3/8" x 13/16", wooden case is covered in brown leatherette, which also forms a hinge connecting the cover along its upper side to its base. Stamped, in silver, to the cover is the name of the award in a column of eight
kanji
characters. The case is shows some wear and loss of leather covering in spots, but remain in good condition, with moderate edge wear as seen in the pictures.
Cultural Note:
By the way, my Japanese friends tell me that the word "Sake" is actually pronounced "Sa-ke" (like the "ke" in the word "kettle) and not "Sa-key" like the English word "key."  And the word is pronounced with equal emphasis on both syllables, "Sa-ke."  So, I've been mispronouncing it for over 45 years!  Sorry...
Please look carefully at the 4x macro photos as they are part of the description.
The white spots on the red sake cup are from the lights I used to illuminate the cup so as to show the wonderful detail of this work of art.
What a great addition to your collection or as a present!
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