A lacquer suzuribako (writing box)


Edo period (1615-1868), 18th centuryThe rectangular lid with beveled edges and decorated in gold, silver, and iro-e takamaki-e and e-nashiji with an elephant turning toward two standing foreigners on a gold nashiji ground, the underside of the lid and removable interior trays decorated with scattered maple leaves in gold and red hiramaki-e on a mura-nashiji ground, with an inset inkstone with fundame edges and rectangular copper water-dropper, gold nashiji on the sides and baseWith a wood storage box 1 3/8 x 8 1/4 x 6 3/4in (3.7 x 20.8 x 17.3cm)