GOTO ICHIJO

[Eric H]

MFA Boston - Goto Ichijo - and a very similar Tsuba by Goto Ichijo for sale

 

http://www.aoi-art.com/fittings/tsuba/F10396.html

 

Eric

[John A Stuart]

It sure has a dear price and not his best work either, still and all I'd love to have it. John

[Martin]

Nice box

[Ford Hallam]

I can't say I understand why this tsuba is designated Tokubetsu Hozon ....but in my opinion Ichijo is overrated anyway. Before ya'll get ready fur a linchin' it may surprise some you to learn that that opinion isn't all that new nor heretical in some circles in Japan

[jason_mazzy]

I may have misunderstood your post. clarify for me. You have one for sale, or this is like the one for sale on AOI's website?

 

 

 

the boston museum one looks nicer to me. and $17k for the aoi tsuba????? I think I will keep searching for a matching tsuba for my heron set....

[reinhard]

it may surprise some you to learn that that opinion isn't all that new nor heretical in some circles in Japan

 

No surprise at all. "Some circles" cultivating their whimsical opinions can be found easily all over the world. So what?

 

reinhard

[Lee Bray]

My whimsical opinion has been drooling over this tsuba since Tsuruta San advertised it.

Who worries about others and their circles?

(j/k, Ford. )

 

Thanks for the other image, Eric.

[Ford Hallam]

Reinhard,

 

You'll have to do better than trying to dismiss an opinion you don't agree with than by calling it whimsical and suggesting that merely because opinions that challenge the status quo are common they are all therefore easily dismissed with; "so what".

 

I think that when it comes to matters of art and aesthetics opinions are only as valid as the argument or rationale behind them. I would argue that in the case of some artists all their work is accorded the same regard despite it being self evident that there is a wide range in terms of both technical sophistication and original artistry. Some may judge Ichijo highly on all the aspects that count, fair enough. In my view though, as both a technician and artist, I have to say that in all honestly I do not rate him as highly.

 

It's also clear that the present evaluation of many artists is merely the unexamined "accepted widsom" of past authorities. Being a product of the illustrious Goto line is obviously extremely significant in the present assessment of Ichijo. Yes, by comparison to the previous generations of Goto masters he seems to be extremely avant garde but in the broader context his work is somewhat uninspired and derivative.

 

As for technique, I do believe it to be of a high standard however what is also evident is the production workshop approach to technique that is the inevitable consequence of the rigid Iebori system. Just one example would be the way his taka zogan simply looks as though the pieces are applied pieces with very well defined vertical edges....it's very crafts-manlike and lacks any subtle feeling in terms of how the various elements of his compositions work together. The technique is formulaic and the design is almost so too.

 

In fact I'd go further and suggest that it was Ichijo's students; Funada Ikkin I , Hashimoto Isshi and Wada Isshin who were far more successful at finding an original and authentic expression in the way they worked metal.

 

Goto Ichijo is generally regarded, along with Hauraki Hogen, Kano Natsuo, one of the last great masters. Occasionally one finds reference, in books of the time, of them being the 3 great moderns.

I would suggest that Ichijo is simply not in the same class as the other two either in terms of technique nor actual artistry. In my opinion, Tanaka Kiyotoshi (a contemporary and friend of Natsuo btw) easily outshines Ichijo all all respects.

 

To take the overall assessment of Ichijo beyond the confines of his immediate contemporaries it not at all difficult to introduce other artists who easily far superior to him also. As examples I'd offer Mitsuoki Otsuki and his closest 3 students Atsuoki, Hideoki and Hidekuni (all easily equal to Ichijo at the very least) and the delicate landscapes, flowers, trees and birds of Ishiguro Koreyoshi leave one feeling that Ichijo is somewhat lacking in vitality, in my view.

 

But this is all opinion, as is anyone else's pronouncements on aesthetics. If, by expressing my contrary view and reasoning others are encouraged to take a closer look or to begin their own evaluation then that can't be a bad thing.

 

regards,

 

Ford

[Ludolf Richter]

Goto Ichijo was in fact no typical Goto-artist.They never made iron Tsuba and their style and motifs had been quite conservative.G.Ichijo made what was en vogue,often using paintings.It's strange that he didn't dare (?) to sign his iron pieces with his Goto name,but used one of two other Go.Ludolf

[Grey Doffin]

Not that I'm an authority on any of the subjects being discussed, but for lack of more productive activity at the moment I'll toss in my couple cents.

What bothers me about these 2 tsuba and many more from the same time, is the total disregard of the fact that these are supposed to be tsuba. By placing the bird on the seppa dai, Ichigo is telling us that he doesn't expect this will ever be used; it is just a work of art. Why even bother cutting the nakago hitsu ana? Make it a roundish metal picture and be done with it.

And it's not just the non-utilitarian nature of the object that bugs me. The seppa dai is important to the art. Look at any great tsuba and imagine it without the negative space in the middle. Something is lost.

Grey

[Kevin Adams]

I recently picked up a book showing some of the works of Kano Natsuo, and it has been quite useful in showing the range of work that he did. Is there a similar book of Goto Ichijo's work? I am curious to research his work further to explore for myself Ford's assertion that he "ain't so good". To date I have only found the pieces on the MFA website/catalog, the pieces for sale at Tetsugundo.com and Aoi-art.com, and a few random pics that have cropped up on the internet (sources long forgotten).

 

Anyone know of such a book? Thanks in advance!

[Lorenzo]

Kevin, for a cheap price you get a great value buying the two rokusho volumes on the fittings subject. Full of beautiful works of late artists. Works of ichijo are also shown.

 

The volumes are the number 28 and 34.

 

An iron tsuba signed ichijo is also shown; so I don't get why he didn't sign iron with ichijo.. I'll scan the picture.

[Kevin Adams]

**slaps forehead**

 

Of course! I have Rokusho #28 as well, I just haven't looked through it in some time. Number #34 as well, you say? Seems I have a bit of shopping to do :D

 

Thanks Lorenzo!

[reinhard]

Ford, thanks for finally presenting your detailed view of Goto ICHIJO and Kinko during bakumatsu and later times. At least that's something to start with and much better than just mumbling of "some circles".

 

Moreover, and this is certainly not addressed to Ford, top-level artistry needs to be studied IN HAND. What is true for good blades is true for good tosogu as well. You haven't seen the real thing until you saw the object with your own eyes. There is no such thing as a "virtual appreciation" of masterpieces when it comes to real art. Colors changing when light and angles of view change, supreme qualitiy of surface finish and many other features, most of the magic actually, can't be seen in pics. You may study hi-res pics of masterpieces until your eyes pop out. Still you haven't seen anything yet.

 

reinhard

[Ford Hallam]

I would obviously have to agree with you, Reinhard, when you say that top quality work really needs to be studied "in hand" to be fully appreciated. However, if we're restricted to illustrations in a book then all the works are similarly presented there is still a significant amount that can be compared between the works in question.

 

In this respect the best available references, that are easily available and reasonably priced, are the Rokusho volumes: 28 and 34. The images are more than adequate and there are numerous enlarged, close up, views that allow for a fair assessment of technique.

 

regards,

 

ford