Japanese Antique Yatate Writing Brush Holder and Ink Well

A Japanese antique copper yatate, a traditional portable writing set carried by scholars, merchants, and travelers. This example features a long tubular brush holder attached to a faceted ink container, decorated in high-relief with a fu-dog and fish. The hinged ink box is adorned with birds perched among blossoming branches, while the lid is surmounted by a prominent crane and decorative floral accents. The brush tube displays additional applied ornamentation, including small birds and foliage in relief. Yatate were useful writing accessories in pre-modern Japan, serving as portable ink reservoirs and brush holders that allowed correspondence, sketching, and record-keeping while traveling. Age: Taisho Period (early 20th century) Dimensions: 4″ high x 14″ long x 3 3/4″ wide