October 2014ARCHIVE

A dragon looks in a pot and will aim at something. I can imagine a story from an expression and a body with the movement of dragon. The dragon is big size for the pot. The direction is unusual and atractive.  The inlay of a back and eyes is very beautiful work.
size 13cm-10cm-16cm(h)  Signature Kako (Chokichi Suzuki)

One of the most important metal artists working during the Meiji era, Suzuki Chōkichi was both skilled at metal casting, carving and inlay. His work is often dramatic and ornamental in design, with lavish use of colored metal inlays and rich red lacquer overlays. Born in 1848 in Iruma County of Musashi Province (present-day Sakado City in Saitama Prefecture), Suzuki Chōkichi spent most of his life working in Tokyo. From 1874 until its dissolution in 1891, he was director of the government-sponsored art export company, the Kiritsu Kōshō Kaisha. He exhibited widely at domestic and international exhibitions, including the Paris World Fair Exhibition in 1878 and the Chicago World Fair Exhibition in 1893 (where he exhibited his famous set of twelve falcons). In 1893, Chōkichi was designated an Imperial Court Artist (Teishitsu Gigei-in).

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Jizai figures were made mostly in iron during Edo period, but in the Meiji period example made of silver and copper increased. This work made of silver has been minutely rendered down to the spines on the antennaes.

Muneyoshi was a main craftsman in the Takase Kozan studio. Kozan managed a company that produced mrtal ornament including Jizai works. But he couldn't create the Jizai pieces by himself. Actually, all works was made by Tomiki family. Even among them, Muneyoshi was good at delicate work. And I feel elegance from his work conpare to other craftsmen work.

size 26cm long (The state of hold up the antennae)

We have more Jizai collection other than web site. Please come and touch the real works in our gallery.

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This is also unsigned horse netsuke. But there is good wood patina and hair work. When we make it stand up, the horse shows the appearance with the atmosphere.

size 5.8cm

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Ichikawa Shudo was the eldest son of Ichikawa Sahei. The family was of samurai origins from Himeji. Shudo moved frequently, residing at Mikimachi and Tokyo, later in Akashi where he died. His grave is at Keifukuji in Himeji. He made elegant trays for Sencha Tea Ceremony. Omura Unkoku was his pupil.

The expression of each dragon are very charming. And It is carved very well.

size 46cm-32cm-3cm(h)

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