Vintage Japanese lacquerware Soup Bowl with Lid (Chidori)

A unique suimono-wan (traditional Japanese lacquer soup bowl) featuring an adorable chidori (plover) illustration on the lid and a striking gold design of pine trees and a sailing ship on the underside.

One rim has been carefully repaired with lacquer, a sign that this piece was cherished and well-used over time.

Traditionally, lacquer soup bowls like this were sold in sets of ten and commonly found in Japanese households, especially in the days when multiple generations lived together. These bowls were used for special occasions—weddings, funerals, New Year's gatherings—and passed down through generations.

Today, as such occasions have become less frequent, many of these beautiful pieces are being rediscovered in storage and entering the vintage market as individual items. At the same time, the production of traditional lacquerware has also declined, making pieces like this even more rare and meaningful.

What is Urushi (Japanese Lacquer)?

Urushi is made from the sap of the Urushi tree.
The sap is collected from trees that are at least 10 years old. The 10 years old tree produces about 200 grams of sap per year. This is enough to make only a few soup bowls.
Refined Urushi is therefore extremely valuable and expensive. Lacquer workers treat it with the utmost care, saying, "A drop of lacquer is like a drop of blood."
The Japanese lacquer technique is also a traditional art form that has permeated every aspect of Japanese culture, from the tea ceremony to modern abstract sculpture and has even been applied to daily items such as tableware, furniture, and jewelry.

*Please note that due to the vintage nature of these items, some may have scratches.