A fine and elegant Mitokoromono by Nakagawa Issho
Nakagawa Issho (中川一匠) was a highly skilled artist from the Ichijo School and is often referenced as Ichijo’s best student. He was active during the late Edo period (1850 – 1880) and is noted for his distinctive and expressive carving style. Issho often worked with motifs such as birds and seasonal plants, creating pieces that show delicate chisel work and excellent composition. His work exemplifies the sophisticated aesthetic of the Kyoto-based Ichijo lineage.
This Mitokoromono is of excellent quality and condition showing the famous design of dragons in the clouds. A very typical feature for the school are the flat relief clouds which just so naturally rise from the Shakudo Nanako ground. The Menuki are solid gold with an application of Shakudo on top, which adds greatly to the elegance of this piece.
In Japanese history, the motif of dragons in the clouds (Unryu no Zu) symbolizes power, transformation, and divine presence. Dragons were believed to control rain and water, vital forces in an agrarian society. Often depicted soaring through swirling clouds, they represent celestial authority and the mysterious forces of nature. This imagery appears in religious art, sword fittings, and painting, particularly in Zen temple ceilings where dragons guard sacred spaces. Influenced by Chinese mythology yet uniquely adapted, Japanese dragons became protectors and messengers of the gods, their presence in the clouds evoking awe and reverence for the unseen powers of the heavens.
The present work is Mumei (unsigned) and was directly attributed to Nakagawa Issho due to its refined detail and typical Ichijo school style.
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
Comes with a custom made box
