A GOLD-LACQUER SUZURIBAKO (BOX FOR WRITING UTENSILS)
Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era, early 20th century
Rectangular, the flat-topped kabusebuta (overhanging lid) with rounded chiri-i ledge, the exterior decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e and takamaki-e against a black-lacquer ground densely sprinkled with gold hirame flakes, depicting autumn and waterside plants including nogiku (daisy), ominaeshi (valerian), susuki (plume grass), and kikyō (Chinese bellflower), the interior of the box with a bon (brush tray) to the left and an ita to the right, both decorated in gold hiramaki-e with shinobu (squirrel"s-foot fern), the bon containing a tōsu (paper knife), kiri (skewer for piercing paper), and two fude (brushes), the ita enclosing a suzuri (ink-grinding-stone) and a splash-gilded copper alloy suiteki (water dropper) with a swing handle, unsigned , with an unassociated wood storage box
9 3/8 x 8 5/8 x 2in (24 x 22 x 5cm)