SIGNED ITCHO SAKU, MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH - EARLY 20TH CENTURY)

KAWANOBE ITCHO (1830-1910) BECAME THE LAST MASTER OF THE KOAMI SCHOOL, A FAMILY OF LACQUER ARTISTS WHO ENJOYED HIGH SOCIAL STANDING IN THE SERVICE OF THE SHOGUNATE EVER SINCE THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. HE WAS APPOINTED A COURT ARTIST IN 1896 AND IN 1897 BECAME A PROFESSOR AT THE TOKYO SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS.

FOR FURTHER EXAMPLES OF HIS WORK SEE ARAKAWA HIROKAZU, KINDAI NIHON NO SHIKKOGEI [JAPANESE LACQUER ART OF RECENT TIMES] (KYOTO, 1985), PL. 42 AND 44.