A GOTO SCHOOL KOZUKA

Details

A GOTO SCHOOL KOZUKA
MUROMACHI PERIOD (CIRCA 1550), ATTESTED TO GOTO JOSHIN BY GOTO HOJO

The shakudo nanako plate is carved in high relief with a design of holly or laurel branches. Gold dots representing dew are placed on the leaves. The frame is of polished shakudo. It is inscribed Mon Joshin Mitsuaki with kao--length 9.7cm., thickness 7.25mm.

Double wood storage boxes. Inner box with inscription by Sato Kanzan, dated winter, 1974.

Accompanied by a tokubetsu kicho certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., no. 302, dated September 4th, 1973.

Lot Essay

Goto Joshin (1508-1564) was the third Shirobei mainline master of the Goto school. He was the eldest son of Goto Sojo, the second mainline master. He was a samurai first and foremost and an artist only when not engaged in military duties. Even at the age of twenty he received gifts from the Emperor Go-Nara (reigned 1527-1557) in recognition of his outstanding bravery. He died fighting for Oda Nobunaga at Ogaki. It is recorded that Joshin was in the service of both Ashikaga Yoshiharu (1510-1550) and Ashikaga Yoshiteru (1 535-1565).

Goto Hojo (Mitsuaki, 1816-1856) was the sixteenth Shirobei mainline master.