Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)Of rectangular form, the wood core with multiple ivory segments simulating basket weave, the cover with a central rectangular reserve with a different weave pattern and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, and partly stained bone, depicting three dancing anthropomorphic sparrows from the tale of the Tongue-Cut Sparrow (Shita-kiri Suzume), in which an old man is rewarded for saving a little sparrow.SIZE 5.7 x 16 x 11.4 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor surface wear, one small crack to ivory on the interior.Provenance: British collection.This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore this item can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.