M-136 Goto Teijo Menuki

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Menuki of Daikoku and Ebisu

Goto Teijo, also known as Mitsumasa, was the son of Kenjo (7th mainline Master) and became the 9th Goto Master after Goto Sokujo died at an early age and his son, Renjo, was too young to succeed him at the time. He like his father, worked for the rich Maeda-han, picking up where his father left off in carrying the Kaga Goto tradition. Because of this, Teijo's works are skilled and carry a greater variety of themes and styles.

This particular design is of Daikoku and his son, Ebisu. Daikoku was the god of wealth and was often depicted sitting on two bales of rice (payments in early Japan were counted in terms of rice). He is often enshrined in a household on a shelf above the hearth so that his sacred image is always black with soot. His son, Ebisu, is shown carrying a fish pole and tai (snapper). He is the God of honest dealing, and was a hard worker who believed that earning a living through honest toil would bring fortune and luck. The word "Tai" is a homonym for "medetai" and even to this day, the snapper is a omen of good fortune and luck and is served in many an important Japanese occasion. The base of the menuki is done in deep dark high quality shakudo, katabori, and gold and silver iroe. Teijo's skill and ability is clearly evident in these quality menuki. With provenance from the Peter B. Klein collection.

Teijo (1603-1673)

Unsigned - NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon to Goto Teijo

Ebisu 3.07 x 1.55 cm
Daikoku 3.06 x 1.47 cm

$1800