TOSOGU
Gallery
Mito Yoshinari
Kozuka
This very fine Kozuka is made in deep-black shakudo and presents a finely carved chrysanthemum branch on top-level nanako of outstanding regularity and shape.
The work is highly detailed (see shots below) and made of only shakudo, thus retaining a very elegant and decent, yet, with it's deep carving, still glamorous work. It greatly resembles the noble elegance of the japanese chrysanthemum and noblicity associated with this symbol of the japanese emperors.
Beside the deep and very figural carving, also featuring botanical accuracy to a high degree, note the wonderful display of the leaf to the right, being shown with it's lower side. The artist shows supreme surface and carving work to create a far more gentle light scattering, giving the slightly silky appearance found on the opposite site of natural chrysanthemum leafs, contrasting the upside depicted around the central flower.
The piece is signed Yoshinari with Kao and the piece papered Tokubetsu Hozon by the NBTHK. It comes in a high quality custom box.
The piece is signed Yoshinari (Kao).
Above, as stated before, please note the fine and sublime silky appearance of the turned chrysanthemum leaf, achieved by finest surface treatment.
As noted, the nanako is excellent, as well as the depth of carving. Note the regularities in all dimensions of the nanako and also the accurate alignment at the borders. Such top-quality nanako was normally produced by specialized tosogu artists that focused on nanako making. It is said that due to the complexity (and also delicacy) of this work, those artists were comparably short-lifed.
Finally, the work delivers sublime details expected from high quality tosogu work. Details most people wouldn't think of and that are easily overseen, such as irregullarities on the branch, however, they create the realistic and dynamic appearance of the piece, to a good part subconciously.
