This Fuchi-Kashira exhibits an amazing degree of detail. We can see a farmer carrying a teapot in the one hand while holding a tablet on his head carrying two boxes most likely with his lunch box. His child is following him carrying a leash. The teapot is inlaid in copper and the bento boxes in gold and shakudo. There is a large oxen made from shakudo with golden highlights. On the backside of the Fuchi there are two huts, one in thick gold the other in the base metal Shibuichi, surrounded by trees the stems of which are made in copper and their leaves in gold and Shakudo. The background is covered with a soft Ishime ground. The Kashira shows the workers on the fields planting the rice and is as detailed as the Fuchi. The Shitedome are made of solid gold.
The name of this motive, Ta – Ue literally translates as ‘on the fields’ and Fukei means scenery.
The founder of the Uchikoshi school Hirotoshi lived in Mito around 1800. He was famous for his depiction of landscapes and the application of gold on shibuichi or silver ground. This work is attributed to the Uchikoshi family. Due to its high degree of detail and the many different softmetal inlays it might well have been made by Hirotoshi himself or a skilled student of his.
The NBTHK Hozon Kanteisho attributes this piece to Uchikoshi shi.
Comes with a custom made box and the NBTHK certificate.
Fuchi:
37.4 mm x 22 mm x 12.4 mm
Kashira:
34.4 mm x 17 mm x 8 mm
