An Inlaid-Lacquer Writing Box (Suzuribako)**
Taisho period (20th century), with lacquer signature Jitoku saku [Akatsuka Jitoku (1871-1936)]
The rounded rectangular box decorated with a whale raised in low-relief, grey-brown lacquer on a glossy black ground, the mottled skin and shadows on the whale's body dusted with gold, its teeth inlaid in ivory and eye in amber; the underside of the cover, removable tray and interior of the box all designed with swirling wave patterns rendered with gold-lacquer lines on a black ground; rims silver; the silver water dropper in the form of two shells and set into a silver saucer; removable inkstone nashiji on the sides and fundame on the upper edges
10 x 9¼ x 2 1/8in. (25.5 x 23.5 x 5.5cm.)
With wood box inscribed on the exterior Kujira makie suzuribako (Writing box with whale design) and on the underside of the cover Jitoku and with red kakihan (cursive monogram)
An Inlaid-Lacquer Writing Box (Suzuribako)**
Taisho period (20th century), with lacquer signature Jitoku saku [Akatsuka Jitoku (1871-1936)]
The rounded rectangular box decorated with a whale raised in low-relief, grey-brown lacquer on a glossy black ground, the mottled skin and shadows on the whale's body dusted with gold, its teeth inlaid in ivory and eye in amber; the underside of the cover, removable tray and interior of the box all designed with swirling wave patterns rendered with gold-lacquer lines on a black ground; rims silver; the silver water dropper in the form of two shells and set into a silver saucer; removable inkstone nashiji on the sides and fundame on the upper edges
10 x 9¼ x 2 1/8in. (25.5 x 23.5 x 5.5cm.)
With wood box inscribed on the exterior Kujira makie suzuribako (Writing box with whale design) and on the underside of the cover Jitoku and with red kakihan (cursive monogram)
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