A LARGE JAPANESE LACQUERED VASE EDO PERIOD, 18TH CENTURY The surface of the bulbous body decorated all over in gold, red and black lacquer, with two large ho-o birds depicted in flight above paulownia, their long tail feathers trailing behind them, the neck and foot with borders of karakusa scrolls; some areas with traces of unrelated underglaze blue decoration underneath, 43cm. Provenance: from the collection of Charles William Martin (1850-96) of Quorn Place, Leicestershire. In 1886, Martin founded the Quorn Ranch Company in Alberta, Canada, one of the most famous British North Amerian ranches, importing British horses and Angus cattle to the area. See lot 261 for another Japanese piece from the same collection.