Kogai: Goto Kenjo “Genjimonogatari”
Signature/mei: Unsigned
Material: shakudo, gold
Era/jidai: early Edo (~1625)
Dimension: 218 x 13 mm
NBTHK: Hozon (2004 – Kenjo)
Custom made high quality kiri box with cushion
Price: €3600 / $3980 / ¥550000
Goto Kenjo (Masatsugu) 七代顕乗正継 lived from 1586 to 1663. He is the seventh main master of the Goto main line Shirobei and also the founder of the famous Kaga Goto school. His works are considered to be of equal craftsmanship to those of the first master Yujo or the third master Joshin. His style or a characteristic of his works is the height of the execution and that they appear somewhat smaller or more squat. This kogai perfectly illustrates his style.
This kogai, named after “The Tale of Genji”, is small, narrow and intricately carved with high carvings, which is, as mentioned, a characteristic of Kenjo. It is made of shakudō and has a rich texture and depicts the events of the day that Hikaru Genji visited Yugao no Kimi, with the vines and flowers of Yugao wrapped around an ox cart.
Some details of the flowers and the oxen’s eyes are inlaid in gold, while the cart features stunningly fine and detailed carvings.
The heyday of Genji paintings such as the “Fifty-four Chapters of the Tale of Genji” also extended to tosogu. The dignified carvings of the Goto family were particularly highly prized in samurai families.
Therefore, even today, after 400 years, we can look at this kogai in its original state and be fascinated by its craftsmanship.
