Very Rare Antique Japanese Military 1911/1912 Xinhai Revolution Garrison Lacquer Army Sake Cup
This is an antique Japanese military sake cup, decorated with a pair of rifles and a wheel - looks like a train car wheel. The words on the back are "Meiji 44/45th Years Temporary North Qing Dispatch Commemoration" "33rd Infantry Regiment 3rd Battalion". Meiji 44/45th Years was 1911/1912. This was right around the transition of the Qing dynasty with the Republic of China - 1911 was when the Xinhai revolution took place and 1912 was when the Qing emperor abdicated. In this period Japan, along with some other foreign countries, sent extra troops to Beijing to protect their embassies and other holdings. I have actually never encountered a cup specifying this event before - usually it's a generic "Northern Qing" but that can be a lot of things, such as Boxers, etc.
Condition: Excellent - very light wear on the surface of the cup
Size: 3.75" across