Muromachi (1333-1573) or Momoyama period (1573-1615) 16th/early 17th century Rectangular, with a slightly domed overhanging cover with rounded corners, lacquered in gold takamaki-e and hiramaki-e, and embellishments of gold foil and inlaid pewter against a brown-lacquer ground dusted with hirame, the cover decorated with autumn flowers and grasses behind a woven bamboo fence, the interior with a continuous design of plovers in flight above sasa (broad leaf bamboo), the interior fitted with a removable tray supporting a slate inkstone and a copper water dropper formed as a chrysanthemum, the rims pewter With a wood tomobako storage box 9 1/2 x 9 1/8 x 1 3/4in (24.1 x 23.2 x 4.4cm)