Founded in the 15th century, the Gotô School 後藤派 showed remarkable stylistic conservatism throughout its long history, particularly in the work of its main line. Artisans from the latter were the only ones authorised to make the fittings worn at the court of the shogun. Their production is characterised by the use of a deep black alloy, shakudô 赤銅, covered in a fine, regular granulation known as nanako 魚子, or “fish roe”, and decorated with incised gold designs.
Tsuba 鐔
Shakudô nanako, iroe inlay 赤銅魚子地色絵象嵌
Silk spools and bobbin, references to the Tanabata Festival七夕図
Signed « Kakumyôsai Miyata Nobukiyo » 銘 鶴鳴斎宮田信清
Edo period, mid 19th century 江戸末期
CB-OS-1964-400
Kozuka 小柄
Shakudô nanako, with copper, gold, and silver inlay 赤銅魚子地金銀銅象嵌
Chrysanthemum flowers and tea pot 菊茶瓶図
Signed « Mitsutoshi » with kaô 銘 光寿 (花押)
Edo period, late 17th – early 18th century 江戸初~中期 (17世紀末~18世紀初)
CB-OS-1937-363
Kozuka 小柄
Shakudô nanako, silver and gold inlay 赤銅魚子地金銀象嵌
Minamoto no Yoshi-iye (1039-1106) under a pine tree 源義家図
Signed « Morimura Atsutaka » with kaô 銘 守邨厚隆 (花押)
Edo period, mid 19th century 江戸末期
CB-OS-1964-387Fuchi-kashira 緣頭
Shakudô nanako, gold inlay 赤銅魚子地金象嵌
Paulownia and phoenix 桐鳳凰図
Unsigned 無銘
Edo period 江戸時代
CB-OS-1933-439Fuchi-kashira 緣頭
Gold with nanako ground 金魚子地
Horses 馬図
Unsigned 無銘
Edo period 江戸時代
CB-OS-1931-440
Kozuka 小柄
Shakudô nanako, silver and gold inlay 赤銅魚子地金銀象嵌
Bugaku dancer and stage 舞楽図
Unsigned 無銘
Edo period 江戸時代
CB-OS-1964-445
Kozuka 小柄
Gold with nanako ground 金魚子地
Minamoto no Yoshitsune leaeping to escape from the Taira general Noritsune 義経八艘飛図
Signed « Mitsuyoshi » with kaô 銘 光美 (花押)
Edo period, early 19th century 江戸末期
CB-OS-1964-368Kozuka 小柄
Shakudô nanako, incrustations d’or 赤銅魚子地金象嵌
Horses in a stable 馬屋に馬図
Unsigned 無銘
Edo period 江戸時代
CB-OS-1964-441Fuchi-kashira 緣頭
Shakudô nanako, iroe inlay 赤銅魚子地色絵象嵌
Kumagai Naozane at the battle of Ichinotani (1184) 一ノ谷の戦で熊谷直実
Signed « Gotô Mitsuyoshi » with kaô 銘 後藤光美 (花押)
Edo period, early 19th century 江戸末期
CB-OS-1964-370Fuchi-kashira 緣頭
Shakudô, copper and gold inlay 赤銅地金銅象嵌
Deer and autumn leaves 紅葉に鹿図
Signed « Gotô Mitsuaki » with kaô 銘 後藤光晃 (花押)
Edo period, mid 19th century 江戸末期
CB-OS-1964-399Fuchi-kashira 緣頭
Shakudô, gold inlay 赤銅地金象嵌
Peonies 牡丹図
Signed « Morimura Takanori kore o saku » 銘 守邨孝則作之
« by special order » 応需
19th century 江戸末期~明治初期
CB-OS-1964-406Tsuba 鐔
Shakudô nanako, gold and silver inlay 赤銅魚子地金銀象嵌
Peonies 牡丹図
Unsigned 無銘
Edo period 江戸時代
CB-OS-1964-415Fuchi-kashira 緣頭
Shakudô nanako, gold inlay 赤銅魚子地金象嵌
Chrysanthemum flowers 菊花図
Unsigned 無銘
Edo period 江戸時代
CB-OS-1964-428Pair of gold menuki 金目貫
Autumn plants 秋草図
Signed « Gotô Ichijô » 銘 後藤一乗 (花押)
Edo period, first half 19th century 江戸末期
CB-OS-1964-484Kozuka 小柄
Shakudô nanako, iroe inlay 赤銅魚子地色絵象嵌
Monkey showman 猿回し図
Signed « Mitsuaki » with kaô 銘 光晃 (花押)
Edo period, first half 19th century 江戸末期
CB-OS-1964-396Kozuka 小柄
Shakudô nanako, gold and silver inlay 赤銅魚子地金銀象嵌
Wild geese in flight 落雁図
Signed « Gotô Mitsumasa » with kaô 銘 後藤光正 (花押)
Edo period, first half 19th century 江戸末期
CB-OS-1964-468