A Satsuma ovoid vaseBy Yabu Meizan (1853-1934), Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century
Finely decorated in enamels and gilt with a continuous scene mainly depicting activities associated with the New Year celebrations including female servants organizing a feast, including one preparing the tai (seabream) and one grating a piece of dry bonito in front of a cat, on the reverse boys gathered around a display of battle banners and armour during the Boys' Festival, all beneath a neck of trailing chrysanthemums draping over the shoulder; signed on the base Yabu Meizan within a gilt seal. 11.5cm (4½in) high.