A gold-lacquer and roiro (black-lacquer) suzuribako (box for writing utensils)
Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century
The rounded rectangular suzuribako with a kabusebuta (overhanging lid) decorated in gold and slight silver takamaki-e, gold togidashi maki-e and kirikane with cranes in flight over large pine trees and plum branches, two minogame (bushy-tailed turtles) crawling toward a meandering stream and Mount Fuji looming in the distance, the sides scattered with plum blossoms, the inside of the lid embellished in rich nashiji decorated with a pair of minogame crawling toward young pine shrubs, the inside of the box executed in nashiji with a removable frame fitted with a suzuri (ink-grinding stone), two unrelated ink-sticks and an oval silvered-metal suiteki (water dropper) carved with a crane in flight among pine; unsigned. 3.5cm x 22.7cm x 18.2cm (1¼in x 8 5/8in x 7 1/8in). (7).

Including but not limited to the following:

Exterior decoration on cover with silver lacquer details slightly chipped, mainly on the details of the flowers. Brown lacquer on mountain slightly flaked. A few tiny kirikane flakes missing (as is usual) here and there. Old minor minuscule chips around the outside edges but only noticeable when examined closely. Gold lacquer very slightly rubbed around the inside rim of the cover; scattered old minute nicks along the inside rim but barely noticeable.

Interior of box with a few minor old dents on the base due to contact with the ink-grinding stone. Nashiji details on the removable frame for holding implements visibly worn due to use.

Silvered-metal water dropper slightly oxidised.