Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century Raised at the wider end with low feet, the cover representing the board of the instrument, lacquered with a mokume design simulating wood grain in black and gold togidashi maki-e and bearing thirteen strings of twisted silver, the end decorated with a writhing dragon among clouds, inlaid in gilt takazogan within a rectangular panel, the sides of the box with the branches of plum inlaid in low relief of gold and silver, the upper end embellished with a brocade cloth; the box fitted with a removable lacquer tray for containing the suzuri (ink-grinding stone) and silvered-metal suiteki (water-dropper) in the form of a chrysanthemum, all set into a base of rich nashiji, the rims of silver, unsigned; with an inscribed wood storage box. 2.8cm x 22.5cm x 10.1cm (1 1/16in x 8 7/8in x 4in). (5).