Kozuka: Waki Goto “Sanbasō”
Signature/mei: unsigned
Material: shakudo, gold, silver
Era/jidai: Edo
Certificate: NBTHK Hozon (1997)
Custom made high quality kiri box with cushion
Price: €1875 / $2000 / ¥300000
Kozuka “Sanbasō” with NBTHK Hozon attribution to Waki Goto
The design of this kozuka is a Noh mask with case next to the shoe of a Noh dancer.
The kozuka itself is made of shakudo-nanko, as is the mask pictured with its case and shoe, which are also made of shakduo. While the carved mask has a polished surface, the case has tsuchime-like chisel marks.
The mask pictured is used in a scene during the Noh play “Sanba-sō,” a dance or prayer for a rich harvest.
Usually, the mask has a very long beard and huge eyebrows reminiscent of an old man. The attachment points for these can be found on the mask, here made of a silver-like alloy.
All of the cords of the mask, case, and shoe are coloured with gold (iroe), as is the decoration of the case.
The Waki Goto school is known for its high quality workmanship and is more free in its design than the masters of the mainline Goto.
This kozuka proves once again its exceptional craftsmanship.
