Wooden box, one of a pair which would have been carried at each end of a pole by a servant. An inner box is enclosed inside an outer box consisting of a black lacquered wooden base, with a wooden lattice framework covering sides and the lower half of each end. The lattice rods are joined with metal settings. The outer box has a sloping lid consisting of two hinged sides meeting in the middle, with a metal clasp. The inner box has a flat lid in two parts, a third and two thirds the width of the box, also with a metal clasp. It has a gold crest (mon) in metal inlay on the front and both sides. The mon represents two leaves of the kaji plant, to either side of a brush. This symbol relates to the July 7th Tanabata Festival.
The inner box is of second quality lacquer; the outer box is of high quality lacquer, presumably because it would need to protect against the elements.
