Featured Japanese Lacquerware Cups

Bought 6 of these from an estate sale. 4 3/8" tall and 2 1/4" across the top. Inside of cups is gold. Rooster decoration is hand painted. Part of the rooster tail goes down the stem handle. Any idea how old these may be?

 

LOVELY, but are they meant to be used or just looked at?? They look delicate!!

 

Aquitqine, I can't answer that question. Not too delicate.

 

Real vintage ones are meant to be used, some more recent ones have 'not food safe' labels due to the paints/lacquers used. Most of this style of item comes from the 60's or 70's when home bars were a thing, the Japanese ones should be free of cadmium/chromium etc, but I wouldn't trust Chinese ones! You can wash the real ones with normal warm water and dishsoap too, but don't soak them and no dishwashers unless you want to make papiermache.