NAKAGAWA JOEKI IX (1849–1911) AND TAKEYAMA MASAHIKO (1842-1902)


A fine mixed-metal brush potMeiji era (1868-1912), dated 1882The shibuichi body chiseled in openwork with birds in a variety of spring and summer flowers, the highlights in gold, copper and shakudo hirazogan, the silver rim above a band of clouds in gold, the three lappet-form feet decorated with stylized dragons in nunome zogan, signed on the side Meiji jugonen jugatsu hi Nakagawa Joeki tsukuru (Made by Nakagawa Joeki in October 1882), and signed on the base Masahiko with a kao (cursive monogram), with a copper liner 4 1/4in (10.7cm) high
|Ninth head of a lineage of Kyoto artists who had specialized mainly in making utensils for the tea ceremony, Nakagawa Joeki received the support of the Mitsui family to compensate for the loss of traditional patronage during the Meiji era and turned to creating highly accomplished ornamental pieces such as this lot. For another work by Takeyama Ma[sa]hiko, compare a set of fittings for a tanto (dagger), sold in our London rooms, November 10, 2011, lot 7 and see Robert Haynes, The Index of Sword Fittings and Associated Artists, Ellwangen, Germany, Nihon Art Publishers, 2001, no. H03766. Ma[sa]hiko was a pupil of Wada Isshin and may also have studied under no less a master than Goto Ichijo.