The design of this Kozuka is based on the incident in October of the first year of Bunji (1185), when Tosabo Masatoshi was ordered by Yoritomo to hunt down and kill Minamoto Yoshitsune. He attacked his mansion in Rokujo Horikawa in Kyoto at night, but was defeated by Yoshitsune instead.
We can see Yoshitsune in the middle wearing a large Maedate on the helmet, one of his retainers coming to his aid from the far left with a Naginata. From the right side Tosabo is depicted as a warrior monk riding into the battle on his horse.
The carving of this Kozuka and is quite minute. We can see seven warriors in different poses of action all of them in Shakudo base with many highlights in gold and silver. The background is made in Shakudo with fine Nanako. The gold foil cover is ornamented with Yasurime (file marks) and is in very good condition.
The form of this Kozuka is exact and harmonic very much as we would expect from a mainline Goto school work. There is a similar Kozuka by Goto Renjo (see last picture) which received the status of Juyo in the 52nd Juyo Shinsa and the similarity of the workmanship is well visible. The Kozuka here was probably made by a very skilled student of the Goto school in Kyoto.
A very fine and elegant piece.
The NBTHK Hozon Kanteisho attributes this Kozuka to Kyo Kinko.
Comes with a custom made box and the NBTHK certificate.
97 mm x 14.6 mm x 6.5 mm
