Vintage Japanese Echizen Lacquerware Soup Bowl Set (5)

Description

The beginning of Echizen lacquerware was about 1500 years ago during the Tumulus Period (6th century). When the 26th Emperor Keitai was still a young prince, he ordered a lacquer artisan at Katayama village (present Katayama-cho in Sabae-shi, Fukui-ken) to repair his crown.
The lacquer artisan repaired the prince’s crown and also made the prince a present of a black glazed lacquer bowl. The prince was deeply moved by the ineffable beauty of the bowl and encouraged to start lacquerware manufacturing in Katayama village. This is how Echizen lacquerware was born.
The bowls measure 115mm in diameter with lids at 110mm in diameter. The original wooden box measures 13.5cmx13.5cmx25cm. The bowls  are made of wood and lacquer. The bowls have never been used and the box and the original packaging and included literature do show some age.
Thank you for looking.