This work takes its subject from the "Ukifune" chapter of the Tale of Genji, depicting the scene of a tryst between Ukifune, who had hidden herself in Uji, and Niou no Miya, who managed to find her. The figure of Ukifune, troubled by love, is portrayed with a sense of sorrow amidst the elegance. Against a background of beautifully uniform shakudo nanako-ji, likely expressing a quiet night, the small boat drifting on the Uji River and the two figures huddling together are rendered in takabori with the volume characteristic of Goto, featuring delicate gold and silver iroe. Kaga Goto refers to masters such as Kakujo, Kenjo, and Teijo, who served in rotation for the Kaga Maeda family, who poured their efforts into arts and culture. The splendor characteristic of Kaga Province and the classical beauty traditional to the Goto family are arranged in key areas.
Offered by Choshuya
17 on the market




Kaga-Goto School
Edo
Kaga
Unsigned
Hozon (NBTHK)
As written by the shop
Machine translation from the shop's Japanese · may contain errors ·
Iebori · Kaga
17 pieces on the market now
The Kaga Goto (加賀後藤) school arose when the Maeda lords of Kaga Province drew masters of the Goto house from Kyoto into their direct service. The founding figure was Goto Kakujo Mitsunobu (覚乗光信), born in Kyoto in Tensho 17 (1589) as the second son of Chojo. By the directive of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Goto family's closely guarded techniques, transmitted as an exclusive isshi soden (一子相伝) lineage, were conferred in full upon Kakujo of the Kanbei house, although it was not the main line. Retained by the Maeda at the extraordinary stipend of 150 koku, he was held in particular favour by Lord Maeda Toshitsune. The school's second principal figure was Goto Etsujo Mitsukuni (悦乗光邦), second son of Teijo, who strengthened the Rihei branch. Together with Enjo (演乗) of the Kanbei house, Etsujo alternated yearly between Kyoto and Kanazawa, training many disciples and devoting himself to the development of Kaga metalwork. The designated corpus reveals a body of work executed entirely in the orthodox Goto house manner (o-ie-ryu).
The prevailing ground is shakudo nanako-ji[[c:1]], upon which designs are rendered in takabori with gold iroe (金色絵) and, in polychrome compositions, gold, silver, and shakudo suemon. Gold nanako-ji grounds also appear, as in Kakujo's Kurikara futokoro-mono set upon a gold plate with polychrome accents. " In complete ito-maki tachi koshirae ensembles, the full suite of fittings is worked in shakudo nanako-ji scattered with the family crest in gold sukidashi takabori with kin-iroe, yielding mountings of courtly splendour. " The setsumei attest to the Kaga Goto's significance within the broader Goto tradition. Etsujo's workmanship adheres "exclusively to the orthodox Goto house style," with skill "in no way inferior to that of his father Teijo," and the construction and nikuoki of Mitsukuni's signed mitokoromono match Teijo's own work. " Their rarity, combined with the exceptional technical standard the corpus documents, underscores the Kaga Goto school's place within the Goto legacy and the Edo-period tosogu canon. Learn more →
Certifies a genuine fitting worth preserving: a correct signature, or, if unsigned, an identifiable era and school, with recognized artistic and craft value.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteIf, due to our fault, the item differs significantly from its proper condition, the item may be returned. Cooling-off is within one week of the item's arrival.
¥350,000