A JAPANESE SUZURIBAKO WRITING BOX, WITH 'MOTHER OF PEARL' DECORATED BOAT, MEIJI PERIOD (1868-1912)

A suzuribako writing box with rounded corners. A stern looking Chinese statesman (possibly the loyal statesman and poet Qu Yuan who is going to drown himself in the river) holding a gui-baton in his hands (a sign of dignity and authority) being rowed in a boat. The design is executed in raised gold and silver lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay work. In inside of the box were the ink stone is placed is signed: hokkyo Korin and sealed Masatoki (both in raised gold lacquer), names and title of the Rinpa-school artist Ogata Korin (1658-1716). With a rectangular ink stone with a gold lacquered rim and a cloud shaped silver water dropper. With a light brown paper stating that the box is by Ogata Korin, dated Genroku 15 (1703).

22 by 24.5 cm.
Height 8 cm.