SIGNED KAKUJUSAI, MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY)

Details

A Two-Case Metal Sheath Inro [Medicine Case]
Signed Kakujusai, Meiji Period (Late 19th Century)
Rounded rectangular with applied himotoshi; the inner of plain polished silver; the sleeve shibuichi with gold, copper, shakudo and silver; signed on the reverse with engraved characters Kakujusai, with a gold inlaid seal Katsutoshi; slight loss of foil; metal ojime carved with a bird and foliage

Benkei standing by a pine tree with his oi [backpack] beside him, holding a cloth; on the reverse Ushiwakamaru (Yoshitsune) running toward a Shinto shrine
3 5/16 x 2in. (8.4 x 5.2cm.)

Provenance

Tomkinson Collection 277

Literature

Edward Gilbertson et. al., A Japanese Collection Made by Michael Tomkinson (London, 1898), vol. 1, Inro section no. 277

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

As noted by Wrangham,¹ this artist (contrary to the earlier date given by Haynes²) was active around 1840. The Burlington exhibition of 1894 included another shibuichi sheath inro by him, decorated with two Nio wrestling by a temple gate.

1 E. A. Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists (Harehope, 1995), p. 118
2 Robert E. Haynes, The Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists (Ellwangen, Germany, 2001), p. 604 (02906.0)

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