Kaga Ujiie kinkowork

[Ron STL]

Here is an umabari depicting a beautiful dragonfly in hirazogan. Recently my friend who sold me this found misplaced NTHK(NPO) papers for it. I was please to see the attribution attributing it wo Kaga Ujiie 3rd generation. Before, I was puzzled trying to place this, so was excited to see it was Kaga kinko. Since, I have been unable to locate anything on sandai Ujiie. My hope is that one of you can point me to some meaningful information of this Ujiie so I can learn about his work. Something directed the shinsa team to sandai. Unusual about this umabari is that the small male/female post the positions the two pieces is not this (made that way). My friend had somebody translate the papers which placed sandai as working 
early Edo" if that reads correctly. I have other Kaga kinko which are so beautiful, but not in this style, so that might be connected to what family made this piece. 

Ron STL

[Geraint]

Dear Ron.

 

I am sorry that I can't answer your question but surely this is a wari kogai rather than an umbari?  Either way it is beautiful!

 

All the best.

[Ron STL]

Sorry Geraint, I intended to type wari kogai. Was hoping someone had some answers for me today but will wait and see what arrives this week. Meanwhile I will continue searching my library.

Ron STL 

[Franco]

Hello Ron,

 

Have you tried looking in TosoKinko-En.pdf available through Markus Sesko?

 

Regards,

[Ron STL]

Will check that out. I looked at Markus' booklist and indexes but may have missed this title. 

Ron STL

[SteveM]

Hello Ron,

Wakayama says there is a third Ujiie from Kaga, but for some reason Wakayama refrains from calling him "the 3rd". In other words, the first Ujiie is labeled by Wakayama as 初代 (the 1st) and the second Ujiie is labeled 二代 (2nd). But for the third Ujiie listed, Wakayama provides no such enumeration. I don't know if this is deliberate or an oversight. I feel it must be deliberate. Perhaps this third Ujiie is separated by some time from the 1st and 2nd. It cannot be a big separation, because Wakayama states this third Ujiie is also from "early Edo". In any event, this third Ujiie is of the same family lineage as the 1st and 2nd (Katsuki, or Kachiki, both pronunciations are valid). 

 

Also note that the certificate states "Den Kaga Ujiie 3rd", so perhaps this "den" is there to provide a bit of obfuscation - as if the shinsa team is saying, "The work is good, but the owner claims it is the work of Ujiie 3rd, which we cannot quite validate, but nevertheless we will note it here on the certificate". 

[Ron STL]

Steve, this is what I was looking for, so thanks for pointing this out and also explaining the probable explanation of the shinsa team's being so specific. I have Wakayama's book and Marcus's indext but didn't notice the listing. I'll certainly check this out again. Before this, I was ready to give up searching. Often, I miss the meaning of "Den" when used like this. Thanks again. 

Ron STL

[Ron STL]

Steve, I'm wondering which specific book by Wakayama did you find this information? I have Tosho Kinko Jiten, Vol 3, by Wakayama but do not see Ujiie listed there, so you might be looking at a different volumn in the set. The only other volume I have is on menuki. These two came from Albert Yamanaka decades ago. 

Ron STL

[SteveM]

Hello Ron, its on page 215 of Wakayama's Tōsō Kinkō Jiten (published 1984) I'm not sure what volume it is - must be the first one. 

Here is the entry (after Ujiie the 2nd, and before Ujinobu)

 

[Ron STL]

Thanks Steve, must have this here somewhere. 

Ron STL