Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Of rectangular form, decorated in typical Shibayama style with inlays of mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, coral, and green-stained ivory, the lower section with a drawer and decorated with two leafy plum tree branches flanked by butterflies, the central section with a caparisoned elephant next to a blossoming plum tree, the top section with four movable panels depicting branches of the same plum tree, the sides with leafy branches, a butterfly, and a spider, the top with a bird of paradise perched on a plum branch, the reverse with a cockerel, a chicken, and butterflies, under the same blossoming plum tree. SIZE 12 x 12.2 x 6.1 cm Condition: Losses to the fittings, several small natural age cracks, four larger age cracks to the reverse. Provenance: British collection.