A CLOISONNÉ-ENAMEL INK WELL Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1900Property of various ownersA CLOISONNÉ-ENAMEL INK WELLMeiji era (1868-1912), circa 1900The rectangular case flaring out to the base with a hinged, slightly domed cover and set on four bracket feet, all worked in silver wire and shades of green, gray, and brown enamels with pairs of coiling dragons on the top, front, back, and bottom surfaces, and a single dragon on each end, all reserved against a dense ground of clouds and black background, the rims silver, the vertical corners finished to resemble bamboo, the cover opening to reveal a silver interior with two circular reservoirs containing glass ink wells 3 x 5 3/8 x 2 1/4in (7.6 x 13.6 x 5.7cm)ProvenanceGeorge E. McGague, purchased in Japan in April 1903, and thence by descent