Casgliadau Arlein

square- shaped writing box and cover, of black lacquer on wooden core; with tooled gilt decoration on lid of fans; inside lid decoration of gilt rickshaw, flowers and a scroll. Box contains 2 rectangular black lacquer pen trays, and a third tray which holds the inkstone, and a metal waterpot and base. The water pot is made of copper (?), with a red patina, and covered in chased decoration of trees and hills; it is circular with a small aperture at the top and a tiny spout at the shoulder; its base is circular, made of copper with a border of applied bronze in the form of a collar of petals. The tray into which the water pot and inkstone fit has a gilt border around the inkstone aperture, and gilt scrolled sprays of foliage around the aperture for the water pot.