KOMA KYŪHAKU (ACTIVE 19TH CENTURY)
An Inlaid-Lacquer Writing Box
Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho (1912-1926) era, early 20th century
With kabusebuta (overhanging lid) and sumikiri (cut-off corners) with slight indentations, the wood substrate covered in black roiro lacquer and decorated inside and out chiefly in gold hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, and togidashi maki-e with extensive use of gold hirame flakes and details including the birds inlaid in shakudō, silver, and other copper alloys, the interior also with shell inlay, the exterior of the lid depicting two crows or ravens perched on the guard-rails of a bridge (perhaps the Uji Bridge), the interior of the lid with the moon shining down on a river whose banks are reinforced by jakago (bamboo baskets filled with stones), the interior of the box also depicting the river and jakago, with a raised platform and a frame containing a suzuri (ink-grinding stone), the rims of the frame, stone, box, and lid all finished in gold fundame (matte gold lacquer), the suiteki (water dropper) of silvered metal in the form of a waterwheel and waves, signed on the underside of the ink stone Koma Kyūhaku saku
With a lacquered-wood tomobako storage box
10 1/8 x 9 1/4 x 2in (25.7 x 23.5 x 5cm)

Including, but not limited to the following:

Overall with some minor unevenness to the color and some light surface wear. There are some minor losses tot he ends of the bridge guardrails -- degradation tot he pewter, as visible in the illustration. There is some minor discoloration to the lacquer around the edges of the birds, as visible in the illustration. There are a few minor losses to the hirame.
Some light wear tot he fundame edges of the cover and the box. Oxidation to the silver water dropper. The removable in inner frame with an old crack to the section on the left of the inkstone (5mm approx.)--this occurred because the box changed shape and the frame is fitting very tightly in the interior of the box. The ink stone show signs of use and traces of ink.
Underside with surface wear.