An inlaid-wood and lacquer suzuribako (writing box) Edo period (1615-1868), 18th century The rectangular box of burl wood polished on the exterior to accentuate the complex design of the natural grain and decorated with a horned owl in ceramic inlays, the bird dozing on the branch of a blossoming magnolia tree in iro-e takamaki-e and painted ceramic inlays, the interior of the cover decorated with an Okina mask resting on its storage box, and a fan in inlaid ceramic and gold takamaki-e against a roiro-nuri ground, the interior of the box fitted with a rectangular inkstone with fundame edges, inscribed Omi Takashima Torabanseki, and a bronze water dropper cast as a camellia flower, inscribed on the cover Ritsuo, and with inlaid ceramic seal Kan 10 5/8 x 8 3/8 x 1 1/2in (26.9 x 21.3 x 3.8cm)