7th Nov, 2025 13:00
Fine Netsuke & Sagemono
30
KAJIKAWA: A FINE FOUR-CASE GOLD LACQUER INRO WITH ROOSTER, DRUM, AND IVY (TSUTA NI NIWATORI TO TAIKO)
Sold for €2,600
including Buyer's Premium
By a member of the Kajikawa family, signed Kajikawa 梶川 saku 作 with kakihan
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615–1868)
Of upright rectangular form with lenticular profile, the ground in lustrous kinji shading to black with dense gold sprinkling toward the base. The decoration, executed in rich gold, silver, and red takamaki-e and hiramaki-e, depicts on one side a proud rooster, its plumage exquisitely detailed, perched upon a taiko drum. The drum body displays finely rendered mokume nashiji simulating wood grain, while the beating surface bears a stylized dragon in hiramaki-e. Ivy vines elegantly trail across the composition. The reverse shows a crouching hen attentively watching over her chicks. The underside signed KAJIKAWA saku [made by Kajikawa] with a red-lacquered kakihan. The interior cases of nashiji with gold fundame rims.
Accompanied by a gold lacquer ojime, decorated in takamaki-e with flowerheads.
HEIGHT 8.1 cm, LENGTH 5.5 cm
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Dr. Henk C. Hoogsteden, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Condition: Excellent condition, with only minimal wear and expected light traces of use.
The Kajikawa name belongs to the most celebrated dynasty of Japanese lacquer artists and is the family name most frequently encountered on inro. Traditionally founded by Hikobei in Edo in the early seventeenth century, the atelier’s fame was further secured by his son and pupil Kyujiro, whom Soken Kisho described as “the finest inro maker of past or present.” The Kajikawa served the shogunate for generations, their signatures often limited to the family name, occasionally accompanied by a red pot seal. For a comprehensive study of the Kajikawa lineage, see Edward A. Wrangham and Joe Earle (eds.), The Index of Inro Artists, 1995, pp. 107–108.
The motif of the rooster perched on a taiko drum symbolizes peace under a benevolent ruler. The design derives from an ancient Chinese tradition, where drums were placed at city gates to warn of enemy approach. In times of peace they remained unused, moss-covered, and silent, allowing birds to roost undisturbed upon them.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related five-case lacquer inro depicting a rooster perched on a war drum with hens and chicks, by a member of the Kajikawa family, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 22 March 2011, New York, lot 3061 (sold for USD 2,562 or approx. EUR 3,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
By a member of the Kajikawa family, signed Kajikawa 梶川 saku 作 with kakihan
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615–1868)
Of upright rectangular form with lenticular profile, the ground in lustrous kinji shading to black with dense gold sprinkling toward the base. The decoration, executed in rich gold, silver, and red takamaki-e and hiramaki-e, depicts on one side a proud rooster, its plumage exquisitely detailed, perched upon a taiko drum. The drum body displays finely rendered mokume nashiji simulating wood grain, while the beating surface bears a stylized dragon in hiramaki-e. Ivy vines elegantly trail across the composition. The reverse shows a crouching hen attentively watching over her chicks. The underside signed KAJIKAWA saku [made by Kajikawa] with a red-lacquered kakihan. The interior cases of nashiji with gold fundame rims.
Accompanied by a gold lacquer ojime, decorated in takamaki-e with flowerheads.
HEIGHT 8.1 cm, LENGTH 5.5 cm
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Dr. Henk C. Hoogsteden, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Condition: Excellent condition, with only minimal wear and expected light traces of use.
The Kajikawa name belongs to the most celebrated dynasty of Japanese lacquer artists and is the family name most frequently encountered on inro. Traditionally founded by Hikobei in Edo in the early seventeenth century, the atelier’s fame was further secured by his son and pupil Kyujiro, whom Soken Kisho described as “the finest inro maker of past or present.” The Kajikawa served the shogunate for generations, their signatures often limited to the family name, occasionally accompanied by a red pot seal. For a comprehensive study of the Kajikawa lineage, see Edward A. Wrangham and Joe Earle (eds.), The Index of Inro Artists, 1995, pp. 107–108.
The motif of the rooster perched on a taiko drum symbolizes peace under a benevolent ruler. The design derives from an ancient Chinese tradition, where drums were placed at city gates to warn of enemy approach. In times of peace they remained unused, moss-covered, and silent, allowing birds to roost undisturbed upon them.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related five-case lacquer inro depicting a rooster perched on a war drum with hens and chicks, by a member of the Kajikawa family, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 22 March 2011, New York, lot 3061 (sold for USD 2,562 or approx. EUR 3,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
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