Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th century Rectangular, decorated in shades of gold, silver, red, and black takamaki-e with embellishments of kirikane, kinpun, and aogai with a coiling dragon in clouds above rolling waves in seigai-ha (combed-wave lacquer), the eyes of the dragon inlaid in glass, the underside of the cover decorated with the attributes of Hotei, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, including a treasure sack, a staff with a handscroll and gourd attached, and a fan decorated with a phoenix, the interior of the box fitted with a rectangular inkstone and a silver water dropper cast as a flaming jewel, all agains a mura-nashiji ground 9.7/8 x 9 3/8 x 2in (25.3 x 23.8 x 5cm)