OKUMURA KŌKI (1950-) Lucky Star Box Reiwa era (2019-), 2019Property of various ownersOKUMURA KŌKI (1950-)Lucky Star Box Reiwa era (2019-), 2019The cuboid rōgin (shibuichi, copper-silver alloy, with a small percentage of gold in this case) body etched and patinated to create a mottled effect, the lid with an off-center star-shaped solid gold finial, the interior gilt, the base with paper label inscribed with title and artist's nameWith a wood storage box 3 x 3 1/4 x 3 3/8in (7.6 x 8.1 x 8.4cm)Exhibited48th Dentō Kōgei Nihon Kinkō Ten (Traditional Japanese Metalwork Exhibition), 2019, no. 28Okumura Kōki started learning to make tsuka (sword hilts) as a hobby at age fifteen and on graduating from Musashino Art University rapidly established a national reputation as a restorer of antique Japanese metalwork, skilled in both chiseled and hammered work. The present lot is an outstanding example of his recent practice, distinguished especially by its elegant, sober patination. It was made to in the first year of the Reiwa era with the hopes for prosperity for Japan under the newly enthroned Reiwa emperor.Okumura has been called upon to replicate and restore important cultural properties such as the mortuary cabinet housed at Yūtenji temple, and the metal fittings on a Buddhist oi (monk's relic chest) damaged in the tsunami that hit Iwate during the 2011 Great Kantō Earthquake. He has won numerous awards in the Dentō Kōgei exhibitions for his creations and is currently a senior member of the shinsa (judgement) committee for the Eastern Japan and All Japan Traditional Japanese Art Society.