A PAIR OF GOTO SCHOOL GOLD MENUKI

Details

A PAIR OF GOTO SCHOOL GOLD MENUKI
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1675), ATTESTED TO GOTO RENJO BY GOTO ENJO

The powerful large menuki of solid gold formed as shishi in the style of Goto Yujo--length 3.1cm., thickness 6.1mm.

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

Accompanied by an origami signed Goto Mitsutaka dated seventh day of the fifth month of Temmei 4 (1784), which states: Shishi menuki, saku Renjo, dai kin ni mai, Goto Shirobei; and a tokubetsu kicho certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., no. 168. (2)

Literature

One Hundred Masterpieces (1992), no. 78.

Lot Essay

This pair of gold shishi menuki gives evidence that Renjo was as great an artist as the Kami san-dai (the first three Goto school masters). The menuki do not have many of the traditional marks, only a football shape suhama mark and a few very small nanako dots.

Goto Enjo (Mitsutaka, 1721-1784) was the thirteenth Shirobei mainline master of the Goto school.