An inlaid lacquer suzuribako (writing box) Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century Rectangular, with an overhanging cover and decorated on the exterior with a crab and seashells among coral and sea grasses in inlaid ceramic, gold, red and silver takamaki-e, and hiramaki-e with embellishments of Gyobu-nashiji and inlaid pewter, the underside of the cover decorated with a heron perched atop a large anchor in ceramic and pewter inlays, all against a black-lacquer ground with scattered silver hirame, the edges nashiji and fundame lacquer, the interior with a removable tray supporting a rectangular ink stone, signed on the underside Nakamura Iwami and with a copper suiteki (water dropper) formed as a gourd, the underside of the cover bearing an inlaid-ceramic seal Kan 9 1/2in x 8 1/2in x 1 3/4in (24.1 x 21.6 x 4.4cm)