Page 76 - Christies Japanese and Korean Art Sept 22 2020 NYC

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A SILVER EWER AND COVER The premier metalworker of his day, Natsuo was also a painter
MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED NATSUO (KANO and calligrapher and a student of classical poetry. He began as an
NATSUO; 1828-1898) adopted apprentice to the swordsmith Kano Chisuke, eventually
The tall cylindrical body with spout, the body and lid sharply incised setting up his own premises in Kyoto in 1846. He moved his
with rain, applied with a loop handle, the lid set with chrysanthemum business to Tokyo in 1854, where he enjoyed increasing success
finial, signed and titled Ame no furikeru yoru (Rainy Evening) on body and acclaim, winning the top prizes for metalwork in National
6√ in. (17.5 cm.) including handle Industrial Expositions. Joining the Tokyo School of Art in 1889 as
With wood boxed titled and signed Natsuo koku (carved by Natsuo) the first professor of metalwork, Natsuo and his many students were
proponents of sculptural metalwork, the wearing of swords having
$15,000-20,000
been revoked in 1876. Natsuo was appointed Artist to the Imperial
Household (Teishitsu gigeiin) in 1890.
PROVENANCE:
Giovanni Morosini (1832-1908) by repute Giovanni Morosini was one of the great collectors of Arms and
Armor and a major donor to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.