Wedding couples often drink together from these at their receptions. This sakazuki seems to have some gold and/or silver content, but that is untested. Its provenance is Meiji circa 1880.

Very fine and detailed engraving using niello techniques to achieve raised images of lucky Japanese motifs including asahi (the rising sun, nation of Japan), konotori (the white stork, bringer of happiness -- although now extinct in Japan), minogame (the ten thousand year old bearded turtle, symbol of longevity -- I guess!) and much, much more. Whoever drinks from this cup gets all the luck available in the cosmos plus the kitchen sink.

Size is about 3 inches in diameter at the lip. The piece is about an inch from base to top edge. Condition is very good; there is a bit of discoloring or tarnishing and plating coming off in spots on the bottom. All-in-all quite beautifully made and well taken care of.

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