This 19th century white porcelain ink stick case is composed of an ink vessel and a cubic container for storing skeins of thread. The face of an animal is attached to the front of the container; its eyes and nose are painted in blue, but the eyebrows and whiskers are carved. The back of the cube-shaped container features the inscription Gabo (甲午, the 31st year of the sexagenary cycle), indicating that it was made in either 1834 or 1894.