Page 80 - Christies Japanese and Korean Art Sept 22 2020 NYC

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A SOFT-METAL-INLAID SENTOKU INCENSE BURNER in the form of incense burners and vessels, and until the method of
its manufacture was understood, it was highly valued. Brass inlay
MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED CHIKAHARU
on tsuba (sword guards) made in Kyoto (Heian zogan) at the time
The body applied with two handles, designed with two kirin facing
were expensive, and the technique was later to be known as Kaga
each other, finely inlaid in gold and shakudo hirazogan, the mid-
section with turtles on kikko mon (geometric tortoiseshell pattern) zogan since it became a specialty of metalworkers in Kaga Han,
the domain of the Maeda clan, who specialized in stirrups and
inlaid in gold and shakudo hirazogan, the pierced lid set with a carved
silver finial of dragons with incised details, signature on a silver plaque components of iron armor.
mounted on base
After the Meiji restoration, the demand for arms and armors had
9¬ in. (24.4 cm.) high
sharply declined due to the gradually dissolving samurai class in
$22,000-28,000 the peaceful time and those armorers expanded their repertoire to
serve wider purposes and markets. They continued to produce great
metalworks as the present lot. The inlaid work of hirazogan on this
During the Muromachi and early Edo periods brass, or sentoku (the
lot is the finest example of metal work in Kaga zogan style produced
Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese era Xuande) was imported
in Meiji period.