A LACQUER WRITING BOX (SUZURIBAKO)
SEALED ZOHIKO (NISHIMURA HIKOBEI), MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY)
Square with rounded corners, finely decorated in gold hiramaki-e, takamaki-e and kirikane with bamboo and blossoming chrysanthemums on a roiro ground, the underside of the lid decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with streams and rocks on a nashiji ground; fitted with a slate inkstone, removable tray, silver water dropper in the shape of overlapping cherry blossoms, knife, paper pricker and two brushes; silver rims
10 x 9 1/8 x 1¾ in. (25.4 x 23.2 x 4.5 cm.)
With original wood box titled on the lid Kiku take maki-e on suzuribako kodogu sou (lacquer writing box with bamboo and chrysanthemums, and implements) and signed Heian Zohiko saku (made by Zohiko) and sealed Zohiko on the underside of the lid

Provenance:
Previously sold Sotheby's, New York, 4 June 1992, lot 63