A striking vintage Japanese ceremonial kinpai (金盃) featuring an elaborate relief depiction of sarumawashi (猿回し), the traditional Japanese art of trained monkey performance.
The shallow ceremonial cup is finished in a brilliant 24K GP gold-plated surface, with the central scene rendered in finely raised relief.
Sarumawashi has a long history in Japan and was traditionally performed at festivals, shrines and public gatherings. Monkeys were regarded not only as entertaining performers but also as auspicious animals. The word saru (猿, monkey) can be associated through wordplay with 去る, meaning “to leave” or “go away,” leading to the belief that monkey imagery could help drive away misfortune and bring good luck.
Kinpai, literally meaning “golden cup,” are traditionally associated with celebration, commemoration and ceremonial occasions in Japan. They were often produced as presentation pieces, commemorative gifts or decorative objects rather than for everyday drinking.
The accompanying original leaflet explains that the cup was produced using a high-precision die-casting technique with a high-purity zinc alloy, before being carefully finished with pure gold plating. It also describes the object as combining the tradition of Japanese drinking vessels with refined metalworking craftsmanship.
Please note that 24K GP indicates 24-karat gold plating and does not mean the cup is made from solid gold. As a vintage item, it may show light surface wear, fine scratches or natural ageing from previous storage and display. Please refer carefully to the photographs for its condition.
Size: 7.5 x 7.5 x 2.5cm
