Showa era, circa mid-1950The high domed lid of the rectangular box made of kanshitsu (drypowdered lacquer applied over hemp) and decorated in gold andiro-e todidashi maki-e with the Nikko temple compound set againsta large wooded hill of kawari nuri reserved on a roiro ground, theunderside of the lid with a raised dark bronze design of a waterfallcascading over rocky cliffs; the lower section of similar coloration andcomposed of solid lacquer sculpted as a hillside inhabited by threemonkeys; fitted with a bronze water dropper (suiteki) in the form of ahut above an inset duan inkstone carved with sunken relief dragoncurled around an inlaid oval, its perimeter with inscriptions in archaicand semi-cursive Chinese; the recess for the inkstone of sparsenashiji and signed Koshi (some wear).10 1/4 x 8 3/4 x 3 3/4in (26.1 x 22.4 x 9.2cm)