Sake cup with maki-e design of Ryogoku Bridge

This flat-shaped wine cup is thought to be one of the “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” cup series, received from a superior. It depicts a view of Ryogoku Bridge in hira maki-e (flat sprinkled metal decoration) and kanagai (thin inlaid sheets of silver) on the vermillion lacquered interior.
The Ryogoku Bridge across the Sumida River connects between the two provinces: Musashi and Shimosa, which is the origin of the name ‘Ryogoku’, meaning ‘two countries’.
In the foreground is Ryogoku Hirokoji district. It was originally a firebreak zone and later turned into an amusement quarter lined with show tents, tea stalls and others. A banner is seen on the far bank. It indicates that there is a similar amusement district on the opposite side.