MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED KYOTO JU MIYABE ATSUYOSHI KORE TSUKURU

This metal incense box, designed as two interlocking shells, replicates the painted clamshells used in kai-awase, a popular shell-matching game during the Edo period. In this game, a set of decorated shells is split between two boxes. One set is removed and matched, one by one, to the corresponding halves in the second box. The interiors of the shells are adorned with paired scenes from The Tale of Genji and other romances, serving as visual clues.
The scene depicted on this incense box likely represents Chapter 30 of The Tale of Genji, "Fujibakama", where Yugiri, the son of Genji, professes his love to Lady Tamazakura as she sits behind a sudare (woven blind) on her veranda.