Japan, 16th-17th century, Momoyama (1573-1615) to early Edo period (1615-1868)Of rectangular form with rounded corners, the gold-sprinkled roiro ground decorated in black and gold takamaki-e with a fierce dragon coiled to form a circle on the slightly domed top of the cover, the interior of the cover with gold and iro-e takamaki-e to depict a tiger amid bamboo. The interior of the box fitted with two trays, one holding the inkstone (suzuri) and gilt-copper water-dropper (suiteki) in the form of a lotus leaf in a pond and the other for brushes and other utensils, the two trays with a continuous depiction of a gnarled prunus tree and bamboo, all on a nashiji ground and with gold fundame edges.SIZE 22.2 x 18.5 x 3.6 cmCondition: Overall good age-related condition with old wear, natural age cracks and splits, some with old repairs and minor touchups, few small chips to edges.Provenance: Ex-collection Claudio Perino, a collector with a keen interest in Japanese, Chinese and Far Eastern cultures. His collection consists of over 2000 works of art, partly loaned to the Museum of Oriental Arts (MAO) in Turin, Italy and to the Museo delle Culture (MUSEC) in Lugano, Switzerland. An exhibition of Kakemono scroll paintings was on view in the MUSEC until end of April 2021.