Description
Signed Nogawa
From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to offer this Japanese Damascene Cigarette Case by Nogawa. The Cigarette Case beautifully worked in extensive nunome-zogan damascene gold and silver depicting Autumn in Maruyama Garden, Kyoto 京都秋園丸山 and Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto 清水寺. A third scene is shown below the Kiyozmizu-dera depicting chrysanthemums and butterflies in a floral cartouche, the scenes are surrounded by inlaid gold leafy vines finishing the exterior of the case. The interior of the case is signed with the Nogawa mark inlaid in gold to the lower left hand side. The Japanese Damascene Cigarette Case by Nogawa dates to the Meiji Period (1868-1912) circa 1900.
Nogawa, Noboru (の no, 川 river – kawa or gawa) was founded in 1825 at 22 Shijo Otabicho in Kyoto, Japan. They were dealers and manufactures in a range of objects from metalwork to satsuma ware with shops in both Kyoto and Miyako Hotels. They frequently exhibited their wears around the world establishing global presence and a strong collector following which continues today. For further information please see our Makers & Retails page for Nogawa.
Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺 or the Pure Water Temple, is a historic Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto, Japan. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Founded in 778 during the late Nara period by the priest Enchin Shonin from Nara (Japan’s capital from 710 to 784), the temple was built next to the Otowa spring, inspired by a vision he is said to have received.
Maruyama Garden 丸山 Maruyama Park 円山公園 is a park in Kyoto, Japan. It is noted as the main centre for cherry blossom viewing in April which is the park’s star attraction known as the weeping cherry tree (shidarezakura) becoming lit up at night. It also becomes very popular during New Year’s Eve Festivals. The main entrance to the park is through Yasaka Shrine, which sits at the eastern end of Shijo Street in the Gion District. Directly to the north is the vast temple of Chion-in, followed by the smaller temple of Shoren-in. The park is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty. Visitors usually enter Maruyama Park through Yasaka Shrine, which is at the end of Shijo Street in the Gion District. Just north of the park are two famous temples, the grand Chion-in and the smaller Shoren-in.
Nunome Zogan (布目象嵌) literally translates as “cloth inlay,”. It consists of first preparing a flat surface with crosshatched lines using a fine chisel to create a series of lines on the entire surface and in several directions to give it a texture that resembles woven cloth.
Damascene is a surface decoration process that involves the inlaying of gold wire or silver into an undercut groove in the surface of bronze, iron or steel.
Meiji Period was an era of Japanese history that spanned from 1868 to 1912. It was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people began to build a paradigm of a modern, industrialised nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western countries and aesthetics. As a result of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound and it affected the social structure, politics, economy, military, and foreign relations across the board. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji and was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era.
Cultural Art during the Meiji Period was of particular interest to the government and they overhauled the art export market which in turn promoted Japanese arts via various world’s fairs, beginning in Vienna at the world fair in 1873. The government heavily funded the fairs and took an active role organising how Japan’s culture was presented to the world including creating a semi-public company named Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha (First Industrial Manufacturing Company). The Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha was used to promote and commercialise exports of Japanese art and established the Hakurankai Jimukyoku (Exhibition Bureau) to maintain quality standards. For the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, the Japanese government created a Centennial Office and sent a special envoy to secure space for the 30,000 items that would be displayed. The Imperial Household also took an active interest in arts and crafts, commissioning works by select artists to be given as gifts for foreign dignitaries further emphasising the high quality and importance of Japanese art. Just before the end of the 19th century in 1890, the Teishitsu Gigeiin (Artist to the Imperial Household) system was created to recognise distinguished artists. These artists were selected for their exceptionally high quality wares and talent in their own industry. Over a period of 54 years Seventy artists were appointed, amongst these were ceramicist Makuzu Kozan and cloisonné enamel artist Namikawa Yasuyuki.
Condition Very Good
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