By Shojusai, Edo period (1615-1868) or Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th century Bearing a roiro and e-nashiji ground, lacquered on one side with an elegant townswoman walking along the banks of a river in a contemplative attitude, her garments billowing in the wind, while on the reverse, a maidservant kneels beneath an overhanging pine branch beating cloth with kinuta (pestles) on a fulling block, in gold and slightly coloured togidashi maki-e, the interior of nashiji; signed Shojusai with a kao. 7.9cm (3 1/8in).