Uematsu Hobi (1872-1933)A lacquer suzuribako (writing box)Showa era (1926-1989), circa 1930The square box with rounded corners and a slightly domed cover, decorated in gold hiramaki-e, togidashi maki-e and nashiji on a roiro-nuri ground with bush warblers flying above a stylized plum tree and young bamboo, the blossoms and the trunk of the tree embellished with uta-e (cursive characters) from a classical poem, the interior decorated overall with branches of blossoming plum and pine, the removable tray fitted with an inkstone and a silver water dropper cast as a water kettle decorated with pine boughs raised in relief, and two writing brushes, a paper knife, and a paper pricker, all decorated in fundame and kinpunWith a wood tomobako storage box signed Furosai Shujin saku (Made by Furosai Shujin) and sealed Muidojin and Hobi and inscribed with a poem on the theme of plum blossoms, by Ki no Tsurayuki (circa 872-945) 10 7/8 x 9 5/8 x 2in (27.5 x 24.5 x 5cm)注脚ProvenancePreviously sold, Christie's, New York, September 11, 2012, lot 93The use of the art-name Furosai indicates that this box dates from the closing years of Hobi's career.