Ogawa Teikan (1828-1898) was the son of Ogawa Motosada (fl. 1836-42). He was a retainer of the daimyo of Mito, a branch line of the Tokugawa family. The signature translates as "While residing in Edo, but in the employ of the Mito daimyo, Shiho Hazono Shosha [an unrecorded art name of the artist] carved this". Like many Mito artists, Teikan worked in the shadow of the Tokyo school dominated by Kano Natsuo, who had better political connections. He is considered the most versatile artist of his time and could work in any metal or medium.