This Kozuka displays five spinning tops, so called ‘Nagegoma’. They were turned by winding a string around them and then pulling it off rapidly. We can see two strings depicted here. These types of spinning tops were famous children toys in the Edo period. It is difficult to clearly state the intention of the artist for this motif, but maybe he wanted to create something which has a joyful and friendly appeal to it. The distribution of the ‘Koma’ follows a harmonic flow from left to right and the thin strings give this composition a nice dynamic.
We can see from the Nanako that this Kozuka was made in a Goto workshop due to the slightly overlapping and seemingly rectangular Nanako pearls. The less formal interpretation of the design and execution of the idea then leads the way to an attribution to the Kaga-Goto workshops.
Kaga Goto is the name for the school which was founded by the 7th Goto mainline master Kenjo around 1627 in Kanazawa (Kaga province). Kenjo is regarded as one of the best masters of the Goto school and he revitalised the very traditional workmanship with his great skill and care for detail and expression. He was working in Kyoto and Kanazawa on an alternating two year schedule. Under his influence many students and branches of the Goto school emerged.
This Kozuka is attributed to Kaga-Goto by the NBTHK Hozon certificate.
Comes in a custom fitted Kiri box.
Dimensions: 9.8 cm x 1.48 cm x 0.5 cm
