Tobacco pouch, Japan. Leather, silk, metal. 5.5" (14 cm) wide by 3.5" (9 cm). Meiji Period 1868-1912. This tobacco pouch is covered in French-knotted silk, depicting a writhing dragon grasping a pearl as he flies through the clouds. This pearl might either be the Cintamani "wish fulfilling pearl" or the jewel used to control the tides (the moon). The kagamibuta netuke at the end of the chains is missing the ivory surround, but a small crescent of ivory remains under the inner flap. The dragon/pearl motif is also found on the repousse metal plate (kanemono) on the front of the pouch. The interior is lined in floral printed leather and has two sections.