A suzuribako [writing box] | Momoyama period, late 16th century

A suzuribako [writing box]

Momoyama period, late 16^th century 

the square box with flush fitting cover and champhered edge, decorated in gold and black hiramaki-e and inlaid in mother-of-pearl on a black ground, with fundame rims, depicting a rare subject of a reel for spinning yarn, rolls of cloth to the sides, the interior with a slate ink stone and bronze water dropper (suiteki) in the form of a folded bamboo leaf

12 cm., 4⅞ in. wide