A Lacquer Writing Box (Suzuribako)

A Lacquer Writing Box (Suzuribako)
(Early 20th century)
Rectangular with rounded edges designed on the exterior with a bamboo grove in gold and black togidashi and mura nashiji against a roiro-nuri ground, the underside of the cover decorated with two Chinese sages, one holding a basket of bamboo shoots, one with a staff in gold, silver, red and black takamaki-e on a nashiji ground, the interior fitted with a rounded-rectangular ink stone and a silver water dropper cast as a sparrow, with two writing brushes and a paper knife, interior nashiji with fundame edges; silver rims
9¾ x 8½ x 2 3/8in. (24.8 x 21.6 x 6cm.)