A Japanese carved shell diorama, hamaguri-no-zushi, fashioned from a natural bivalve shell? clam shell. The exterior of the shell is worked in relief depicting a dragon amidst swirling clouds with Mt. Fuji in the background. The hinged shell opens to reveal an intricate miniature landscape featuring a thatched dwelling or teahouse, a prominent water wheel, pine trees, and figures traversing a bridge over a stream. The interior components are likely bone? or a similar organic material. Accompanied by a commemorative ceramic beaker of tapering form, finished in a speckled oatmeal glaze. The body is hand-painted with a swallow in flight amongst bamboo-like reeds, bordered by blue and brown bands at the rim. The reverse of the beaker bears a handwritten inscription in brown ink reading: to / my brother / Director / e at West Hall / July 1922.
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