Antique Japanese Bronze Yatate Portable Brush & Ink Netsuke For Calligraphy

This is a mid Meiji Era (c. 1890) Yatate made of bronze. Yatate are portable brush and ink case for calligraphy (shodo). The shaft held the brush and the swing open lid held a cotton saturated with sumi (ink). All that was necessary was adding some water and using the open lid as a palate to achieve the consistency of ink wanted. The yatate also acted as a bunchin (paper weight to hold down the rolled paper used during the Edo and Meiji eras.

The hole on the underside (see picture 11) was used to attach a netsuke under ones kimono obi sash to have this brush hanging at ones side ready to write when so inspired.

Along with a warm aged patina this yatate remains in very fine condition. It measures a compact 7" long (18 cm) by 1" wide (2.5 cm) by 1" tall (2.5 cm).  Please note:  Brush seen in various pictures not included.