A GOTO SCHOOL KOGAI | Christie's

A GOTO SCHOOL KOGAI

Details

A GOTO SCHOOL KOGAI
MUROMACHI PERIOD (CIRCA 1550), ATTESTED TO GOTO JOSHIN

This kogai of fine deep black shakudo has the rare design of hawk jesses (taka dogu) in high relief carving on a nanako ground--length 22.2cm., width 1.4cm., thickness 6.1mm.

Double wood storage boxes. Inner box with inscription by Sato Kanzan, dated summer, 1975.

Accompanied by a juyo kodogu certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., no. 3980, dated June 1st, 1971.

Provenance

Amiya (Ogura Soemon)
Alexander Moslé
Joseph U. Seo, New York

Literature

Moslé (1932), no. 136, p. 91.
Homma, Sato, Ogawa and Compton (1976), no. XXXVI, p. 132.
One Hundred Masterpieces (1992), no. 73.

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. At the age of twenty he already 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 (1535-1565).