Performer Kozuka

Edo period (1615-1868) 

Shakudo nanako kozuka showing a performer.

Attributed to the Goto School

Unsigned

The shakudo kozuka worked in gold, silver, and shakudo takazogan, depicting a performer in the role of a samurai with a patterned robe and a wakizashi tied to his waist, all against a masterful nanako ground, within a raised border. The reverse finely polished. The use of negative space is quite brilliantly utilized here to evoke a stage scene.

LENGTH 9.6 cm

WEIGHT 33 g

Condition: Excellent condition with minor surface wear.

Provenance: From an Australian private collection of sword fittings, collected over centuries with a discerning eye for quality and comprising mostly exceptionally fine kozuka from the noted Hamano and Goto schools.

The Goto School is a prestigious Japanese metalworking tradition, founded in the 15th century by Goto Yujo. Renowned for its mastery in creating sword fittings, the Goto School artisans specialized in working with gold, silver, and other precious metals. Their intricate designs often featured motifs inspired by nature and mythology. Over generations, the Goto School maintained its elite status, with successive masters serving the Tokugawa shogunate, making their work highly sought after for both its artistic and historical significance.