Overview

This piece is a elegantly designed, square writing box with round corners and a slightly raised lid. The edges are bordered with tin. The main subjects of the design are autumn plants. Bush clovers and Japanese pampas grasses by the water and a waning moon above them are on the lid. On the back, autumn plants also appear with dew drops; the same subject can be seen inside the box and under the ink-slab, which is unusual. A round shaped water holder of gold and silver also has the same design. This box might have been designed in connection with a poem in “Kiritsubo”, Genji-Monogatari Tales, telling of autumn plants and love.