Hirata set of Fuchi Kashira

[raiden]

Early Hirata Fuchi Kashira, explanation soon on Tetsugendo.com so I will not type it over here. NBTHK certified, enjoy the workmanship!

[Justin]

Very nice Mike!

[kaigunair]

That is nice!

[Brian]

Mike,

Please do copy and paste the description here, or I am happy to do it for you if more convenient. In the interests of education.

Otherwise, it just becomes a link to a for sale item, and that is an advert. I am sure we would all love to be able to read info on these without having to go to another site, the page on which, may or may not be there in a year or 2.

 

Brian

[raiden]

Top class work by the famous Hirata School.

 

The Hirata School that was known for their delicate work in cloisonné worked for the Tokugawa family. The first generation Hirata Donin was commissioned to move to Edo and work strictly for the Tokugawa. This was an honor that lasted for many generations. On occasion, they also made teapots and other items at the request of the Tokugawa. The super fine workmanship shows Japanese metalworking at its highest level. The cloisonné is finely done, but the gold trim work is even more exquisite and seems almost impossible to do. Done on deep black shakudo, the mix of various shapes and objects for the design is classic work for the early Hirata. This set is most likely from the 2nd generation, and is in mint condition. Early works like this are very rare, as there were not too many of them made. For someone that appreciates the best in craftsmanship. Fuchi Kashira also have solid gold shitodome included. Set comes with custom box and is NBTHK certified.

[John A Stuart]

Have not heard from Ford lately, but, maybe he or someone else can clarify the technique involved for this type of work. I suspect the decorative cloisonne elements are fired apart from the base and then applied, not fired in place. Correct? John

[Ford Hallam]

Hi John

 

yes, you're correct. The cloisonnes are fired separately and then set into the ground metal a bit like gem stones would be. Some more neatly than others.

 

This is probably one of the most celebrated Hirata pieces and is attributed to Hirata Donin (1590 - 1646)

 

The enamel as used by the Hirata is called doro-shippo, doro meaning mud and referring to the lack of perfect clarity compared to the later Meiji enamels which may be the finest ever made. Although it should be noted that the dramatic refinement of enamelling in the Meiji period was due mainly to the involvement of a German chemist. Vorsprung durch Technik :

 

Japanese artisans practised enamelling as early as the 7th cent. and the word 'Shippo' means seven treasures. A reference to 7 treasures mentioned in Buddhist sutras ( gold, silver, emerald, coral, agate, lapis lazuli, giant clamshell, glass and pearl.) but also the 7 original colours that were most commonly used.

[docliss]

Mike’s recent posting of a beautiful pair of fuchi-gashira, probably by Hirata Narikazu, has prompted me to post images of a pair by a later Hirata artist. It is an interesting exercise to compare these two works, the latter possibly by Hirata Harunari (H 00844.0), the eighth master of the school and working in Edo in the first half of the C19.

 

Upon a fine shakudō, pearskin ishime are depicted the seven takaramono in translucent enamels within gold cloisons; some of these are duplicated. Both the fuchi and the kashira have fine rims. The fuchi is unsigned, and the kashira has copper-gilt shitodome.

 

Interestingly, on the ura surface of the fuchi has been added, in gold and red lacquer, an additional image of a jingasa. Is it fanciful to wonder if this modification was for a left-handed wearer, or was simply a mon, intended to personalise the fitting?

 

This pair was a part of lot no 230 in the Gardiner sale of 24 February, 1948.

 

John L.