Yatate and the Meiji era calligraphy set

A calligraphy set dating back to the turn of the 20th century, the Meiji era. The set includes a yatate - a portable inkwell with a brush cover, an indispensable part of Japanese writing. it is made of patinated bronze. The lid of the inkwell is decorated with a carved figurine of a turtle symbolizing longevity and peace. The brush inside the inkwell is also from the period. The set also includes additional brushes, an ink container and four ink cubes with elegant gold lettering and ornamentation depicting red-headed fish - a symbol of happiness and harmony - and fragments of poetry, also carrying a message of peace, harmony, unity, closeness and prosperity.
The whole in a decorative wooden box decorated with the motif of a bird sitting on a branch. The decoration was made with maki-e technique - using delicate gilding and colored lacquer. Dimensions of the box: 8 x 9.5 x 30 cm
Dimensions of yatate: 1,1 x 21 cm, height of ink container including decoration: 4 cm
Dimensions of a single ink cube: 3.1 x 8.3 cm
Dimensions of the additional container for rubbing the ink: diameter 7.3 cm, height 2 cm
Author: unknown
Dating: late 19th/early 20th century