Writing box (suzuribako) of wood, the lid decorated with design of a cockerel standing on a barrel inlaid in tortoiseshell, ivory and mother-of-pearl, also lacquer: Japan, 19th century

Writing box with lid, lacquered palmwood decorated with equisetum (J: tokusa) and miniature landscapes, containing internal tray with inkstone, ink-stick, silver water dropper, and two writing brushes: Japan, 18th-19th century

Writing box (suzuribako) and cover of lacquered wood, somada zaiku technique, decorated in mother-of-pearl inlay with a pavilion by a river with hills, containing two trays and an internal plate of lacquered wood, and an inkstone and a silver water dropper (in the shape of two mandarin ducks): Japan, Toyama Prefecture, 18th - 19th century

Writing box (suzuribako) with lid, lacquered wood decorated on the lid with a landscape in raised gold takamakie and inside with birds on the shore, containing inkstone, water dropper and tray: Japan, mid 18th century

Writing box (suzuribako) of lacquered wood, interior decorated with maple leaves in lacquer and mother-of-pearl, containing ink-stone and water dropper: Japan, 18th century

Colour woodblock print, no. 25 from the series Sono sugata yukari no utsushi-e (Faithful Depictions of That Splendid Figure), depicting four women on the shore with papers and writing materials in a lacquer box: Japan, by Utagawa Kunisada, 1847 - 1852

Sheet from colour woodblock print triptych, from the series Imayo Genji juni-gatsu no uchi (Genji's Modern Twelve Months), entitled Satsuki (5th Month), depicting Genji seated before a writing box and paper, a lady looking over a screen: by Utagwa Kunisada, Japan, 1861

Sheet from colour woodblock print triptych, from the series Imayo Genji juni-gatsu no uchi (Genji's Modern Twelve Months), entitled Satsuki (5th Month), depicting Genji seated with a writing box and paper, a lady looking over a screen: by Utagwa Kunisada, Japan, 1861

Part of writing box of black lacquered wood containing inkstone and water dropper: Japan, 1930s - 1950s

Part of writing box of black lacquered wood containing inkstone and water dropper: Japan, 1930s - 1950s

Part of writing box of black lacquered wood containing inkstone and water dropper: Japan, 1930s - 1950s

Part of writing box of black lacquered wood containing inkstone and water dropper: Japan, 1930s - 1950s

Colour woodblock print, no. 25 from the series Sono sugata yukari no utsushi-e (Faithful Depictions of That Splendid Figure), depicting four women on the shore with papers and writing materials in a lacquer box: Japan, by Utagawa Kunisada, 1847 - 1852

Three sections of a colour woodblock triptych print depicting three ladies on a verandah overlooking a garden with stone lanterns, a lake & a pavilion, one lady in the middle has a writing table and paper before her, the other two are preparing ink and offering a lacquer box (containing writing brush?) respectively: Japan, by Utagawa Kunisada, c. 1850

Writing box (suzuribako) of gold lacquered wood, decorated on the lid with overlapping folding fans with motifs of chrysanthemums and pine trees in takamakie, on the interior with birds against a sprinkled gold ground, containing an ink-stone, ink-stick holder, knife and brush, with paulownia storage box: Japan, c. 1890