Edo period (1615-1868) or Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th century Of compressed ovoid form set on a tall stepped foot pierced with cardioid-shaped apertures, the basin with elephant handles and a dragon spout and decorated on the surface with confronted long-tailed roosters and butterflies in blossoming chrysanthemums executed in silver hirazogan, the shoulder carved on the surface with a lappet collar of chrysanthemum heads in low relief and a leaf band in archaistic Chinese style carved in sunken relief around the foot, the circular dome cover decorated with key frets around the rim in silver hirazogan and finished with an elaborate finial cast as a coiling dragon clutching a sacred jewel 28 3/4in (73cm) high, 26 1/2in (67.3cm) wide