Pen case base. Bottom, sides and interior are plain black, one end continues the red background with gold border design from the lid. Casket shaped base which slides in to the lid from one end. Pen cases such as this were frequently treasured objects belonging to scribes. This box still contains its original reed pen, with its nib cut to specifications of the script for which it was last used. The built-in metal inkwell could be a later modification by the box's owner, one that required that the pen be shortened to fit inside the box..Lacquer
