Inagawa Shishi Menuki
Works by the Inagawa school are infrequently seen, but their roots extend into some of the most highly-regarded makers of tosogu in the Edo period. The founder of the Inagawa school, Shosaburo Naoshige, was a student of the celebrated fittings craftsman, Yokoya Soyo (横谷宗與), and was granted the “so” (宗) kanji from his master and taking the art names of both “Sōkan” (宗閑) and “Sōmu” (宗夢).
Yokoya Soyo, Master of Masters
Shosaburo Naoshige surely had a superior education working under Soyo. In Kyoto, Soyo was a student of Goto Kenjo, the 7th mainline Goto master, and it’s possible that he accompanied Kenjo’s son, Goto Sokujo the 8th Goto master, to Edo when Sokujo was commanded to relocated the base of Goto operations to the Chuo district of Edo in 1625. However Sokujo died in 1631 at the age of just 32 years, and the presumption is that Soyo being the senior and most proficient student of Sokujo, probably stepped in to manage on behalf of the Goto school’s affairs with the Shogunate as Kenjo began to make the arduous travels between Kyoto, Kanazawa (where he was dually employed by the Maeda daimyo), and Edo. Sokujo’s son was too young to take over, so it’s reasonable to presume Soyo would be the most qualified in the Edo location to take the helm.
For Kenjo, traveling between these three destinations certainly would not have been easy or expedient in Edo times, and probably cost a small fortune as well. Goto business in all three locations had to be maintained. Sokujo’s son, who would someday take the position of 10th mailine master, was being raised, trained, and groomed by Goto Teijo back in Kanazawa as he also worked for the Maeda daimyo. So, again, it’s reasonable to imagine Soyo answering the call to manage and liaison for the Goto school’s Edo headquarters for a while. In 1646, Sokujo’s son who would be named Goto Renjo was ready to step into the Goto mainline master shoes. And it was around this time, with permission by the Goto, that Yokoya Soyo became directly employed by the Shogunate with a rather handsome stipend for himself, and an additional allowance for 18 people as various workers and servants.
Yokoya Soyo
Soyo’s school would become arguably the single largest progenitor of future Edo-area fittings artists. The style of his work continued to be in the Goto style, but he also innovated the style of “katakiribori” in which a plate of metal was carved with a chisel in such a way that it imitated an ink painting in details drawn with different widths of painted lines of ink on paper.
It was a brilliant innovation of artisanship and immediately gained admirers and patrons. The style was adopted, practiced, and even perfected by artisans in the future such as Funada Ikkin, and Kano Natsuo.
Example of Yokoya school Katakiribori technique by the 5th generation Somin
The Inagawa School
Shōsaburō Naoshige (庄三郎 直重) is thought to perhaps have been descended from the Kikuchi family. This theory bears some merit based upon the records that Naoshige’s son, Naokatsu, had a student with the family name of Kikuchi. Naokatsu himself became one of the most gifted students of another prestigious school called the Yanagawa school, under it’s founding headmaster, Yanagawa Naomasa. Naomasa himself was also a direct student of Yokoya Somin, thus within these schools, Yanagawa, and the Kikuchi, clearly all roads lead to Yokoya. Naoshige’s progeny would continue for five more direct headmasters with Naokatsu, Yoshikatsu, Shigekatsu, and Nobukatsu, as well as a handful of other students stemming from these four into independent directions.
Shishi Lions
Shishi (often referred to as “Lion Dogs”) are symbolic of protection, strength, and wealth, and are regarded as the ‘king of beasts”. They have a deep connection to Buddhism and will be set in pairs at the entrances of temple grounds or buildings within the grounds. In textiles, sword fittings, paintings, and other art mediums, they are often seen paired with Peony blossoms which are regarded as the “king of flowers”. For this reasons they are also symbolic of the Imperial family. Various legends surround this mythical lion, including a Chinese legend of a mother Shishi that pushes here young off of a cliff (or waterfall in other accounts) to test their strength.
These menuki are the products of excellence with skillful composition and rendering. They are mumei (unsigned) but resemble the character and workmanship that would harken from the Yokoya roots the Inagawa school held. These Shishi are calmer in character and evoke a feeling of peacefulness while most Shishi are depicted more lively and with ferocity.
Omote Menuki
Ura Menuki
The shakudo base metal is high quality with a deep blue/black tone, with details sculpted in a lustrous gold of equal quality and beauty.
An NBTHK Hozon Tosogu certificate has been awarded to this pair of menuki, confirming the authenticity of their origin maker, quality, and condition, and held in a custom kiri wood box. A rare and beautiful set ready to take its place and enjoy in a collection.
Price: $1,100.00 USD