Rectangular writing box (suzuribako) finished in black lacquer and featuring a decoration on the lid of three graceful cranes in flight. Executed in gold and red powders, the design captures the delicate movement and ethereal presence of these revered birds against the smooth surface of the lacquer.
In Japanese culture, the crane (tsuru) is considered a mystical creature imbued with auspicious qualities. Believed to live for a thousand years, it is a powerful symbol of longevity, good fortune, and fidelity.
Boxes such as this would have held inkstones and writing implements, and were often treasured both for their function and for their artistry, making them important objects of status and cultural significance since the Edo period.