Meiji period, 1867-1912. Large 5 3/8" diameter, with chocolate brown body color and pumpkin inside. Deep, slightly rounded conical bowl with shallow rounded cover. The top decorated with a gold lacquered tendril with leaves, pumpkin or gourd, but probably the former which would be a double entendre of the interior. The vine continues onto the bowl and when served, the two would be aligned to complete the design. Very slight wear from use to the inner lip of each, only. True lacquer (not paint) which took weeks of drying for each coat and months to produce this bowl. Fine preservation.
