Box for writing utensils, of squared form and with rounded corners and rounded, flush-fitting lid, decorated with shells for the Shell Game depicting either the outer patterning of the shells or the interior scenes alluding to the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari), wood covered in lacquer, in gold, black, red and silver takamaki-e lacquer, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and with kirikane ('cut gold') on a black lacquer ground with flat hirame old flakes individually placed. The inside of the lid depicts a wooden frame enclosing a bamboo plant, around and on which sparrows fly and settle, the scene continuing on to the base with sparrows in the air and plants on the ground in gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e lacquer on a part nashi-ji ground. A nashi-ji frame in the base of the box holds a central inkstone and silver water dropper tray in the form of two huts (the water dropper is missing) with a faded orange silk 'cushion' protecting the lacquer lid from the metal water dropper.