a Japanese inkwell and brush holder (yatate) in wood and staghorn. The brush holder is made of Malaysian hardwood (tagayasan) with the opening rimmed in horn. 
The inkwell is carved from a piece of root-wood with a polished wood lid and is decorated with six tiny ants in metal and horn. With the original bamboo brush and ojime. A rare sagemono decorate with high quality ants as in the works by Jikan Gambun. Unsigned. 19th century. 
Brush-holder: 13,5 cm. Inkwell: 4,1 x 5,7 x 2,4 cm