| Ko Goto Kogai from the Muromachi period. Done in the style of
Sojo (γ‘ @ζ), it may well be a piece by the second mainline Goto master. Shakado construction with a fine nanako-ji (ΤΊ
qn). Kata sagaru. Sojo (γ‘ @ζ 1461 - 1538) was the 2nd head of the mainline Goto family. He was the second son
of Yujo and his common name was Jiro. He renamed himself Sojo after he entered the priesthood and shaved his head at the age
of 40. It's offten said that Sojo's carving style is similar to his fathers though more sophisticated. The playful theme is described as Enokoro no Zugara ηΜ}Ώ and shows a dog or puppy in takabori iroe (€FG) with a stick in it's mouth. The dog has his paw on a long shakudo string that is attached at the other end to a awabi ιΈ (abalone) shell which I believe represents a food bowl. The shell is also finished in shakudo and iroe. The motif looks like the dog is playing with his food bowl which is zattached to a lead or rope. The dog has been a symbol of fertility since long ago in Japan, and it is said that the abalone can remind us of a woman. The combination of them is thought to be a design to invite happiness.hThis shakudo is a rich black in colour and the nanako is fine and even in the style of Sojo.
 There is a special trait in this kogai in that it's contruction method is quite different from the norm. This kogai has a method for attaching the design (the dog in this case) to the JIban that is called KARAKURI-DOME (J~). In most cases, the design of the piece is either carved out of a solid piece of metal, or inlayed into the work. In this case however, the dog is attached with Kurikaradome. A small metal collumn is attached to the back of the dog, which is then passed through a hole and then flattened over on the back of the kogai. Looking at the back of the kogai, this is evident in what appears to be a rivet directly inline with the center of the dog. This KARAKURI-DOME is generally used for attaching mon to kodogu. The fitted Kogai of the Japanese National Treasure TAKAGI NAGAMITSU has the same construction method as this Kogai. Works that feature KARAKURI-DOME are found in Ko Goto kodogu.
 In regards to the warabite, the length of the center line that splits and curls off in two directions helps to determine the age of the Kogai. The short style as seen in this piece indicates Ko Goto. Longer center sections indicate the Edo period and onwards. This I believe is evident in Goto works but I have seen Ko Mino with long center lines and large curls so it cannot be something that i ssaid about all schools. Size, Total length 215mm x Dô width 15mm and Sao width 6mm. A similar exaple can be seen in Ko Kogai on page 311, with similar examples of work on pages 262 and 432.
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| The Origami translates as follows. No: 451400 Kanteisho Item: Enokoro Zu Kogai (Puppy motif Kogai) Mumei, Ko Goto (unsigned, Ko Goto) Shakudo nanako-ji, Takabori, Kin iroe, Warabite Kin (Shakudo nanako (fish roe) surface, High carved, Gold finish, the Warabite is gold) Migi wa tokyokai ni oite shinsa no kekka hozon tosogu kanteshi kore wo shosuru (Examination by the Tokyo branch has resulted in the decision that the item to the right is a sword fitting that is worthy of preservation) Heisei Ju Hachi Nen Ju ni Gatsu Ju go Nichi (December 15, 2006) Zaidan Hojin Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Incorporated foundation Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai)
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