Writing Box (Suzuribako) with Pine, Camellia, and Bamboo

From the Cleveland Museum of Art record

Japanese writing boxes are designed to hold all the tools for traditional calligraphy, including an inkstone, water dropper, ink cake, and brushes. This box retains its inkstone and water dropper, the latter of which has a design of camellia and pine, matching the late winter, early spring lacquer motifs on the lid. Pine, bamboo, and plum is a common seasonal motif; here the plum is replaced with camellia.