Ko Kinko Kogai from the mid to late Muromachi period. It is most likely leaning towards the later end of that period. Yamagane construction with nanako jiban. Kata Ikaru, there is lacquer on the jiban also. This kogai has a rich chocolate brown patina and the nanako is very fine. The design is that of gourds and associated foliage. A few of the leaves have gold drops on them. There are also traces of gold that I believe incorporate the uttori technique on the design.

Concerning the lacquer, it may just be that the lacquer was a decoration and that it served no other real purpose but I also speculate, that these type of Kogai were not made like the early Goto, Ko Mino or even more dressed up Ko Kinko kogai and are a little more rustic. It is this feeling of being made for every day use that I wonder if the lacquer was not some form of protection from the weather or other forms of ware.

The design is a bit tired as is common for kogai of this age. This is a representative piece of Ko Kinko I feel but it has also been suggested that it could be typically called a "Jidai Kogai" or an old period kogai.

Size, Total length 204mm x Dô width 13mm and Sao width 5mm.