This is a box-shaped inkstone box (funatansu) made during the Taisho era (1925). The inkstone box is box-shaped, and when the lid is opened, it can store writing implements such as an inkstone, ink, and brush. The drawer was used to store valuables. It has a handle, making it easy to carry. Merchants from the Edo period to the Taisho era used inkstone boxes for accounting and customer transactions. Since receipts were written with a brush, the inkstone box was extremely useful. It resembles a modern cash register. According to legend, this inkstone box served as a lifebuoy when a merchant ship was shipwrecked. Iron nails were used in the iron parts, and wooden nails were used elsewhere. This is a characteristic of boat chests from the late Edo period to the Taisho era. This is a very rare piece. Dimensions: Height 21cm, Width 19cm x Depth 30cm, Weight 1520g