A PAIR OF GOTO SCHOOL GOLD MENUKI

Details

A PAIR OF GOTO SCHOOL GOLD MENUKI
MOMOYAMA PERIOD (1573-1600), ATTRIBUTED TO GOTO TOKUJO

Each solid gold fitting is formed as a pair of gambolling shishi. The surface has fine detail carving. The supports are of inyo type--length 3.6 and 3.5cm., thickness 6.5mm.

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

Accompanied by a tokubetsu kicho certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., no. 170, dated April 15th, 1971; and a juyo kodogu certificate dated July 10th, 1976. (2)

Provenance

Joseph U. Seo, New York

Literature

Juyo kodogu to zufu, Vol. XXIV, Part 3, p. 189.

Lot Essay

Goto Tokujo (1548-1631) was the fifth Shirobei mainline master of the Goto school. He was the son of the fourth master, Kojo (1529-1620). His early life was spent in Kyushu with his father, but in 1571 he returned to Kyoto where he was placed in charge of the gold coin mint. With the death of his patron, Hideyoshi, he was barred from this position by Tokugawa Ieyasu. His last years were spent in obscurity as a ronin.