By the Inoue company, Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century The squat spherical body raised on three tall tongued feet in the form of mythological beasts, decorated in high relief inlay of bronze, silver, copper and gilt with three swallows in flight between trailing leafy branches of wisteria, the domed cover similarly worked with overlapping butterflies, surmounted by a knop in the form of a silver chrysanthemum bud; signed on the base with a seal Inoue sei. 13.3cm (5¼in) high. (2).