TOSHIHIKO: A MIXED METAL 'PLUM BLOSSOM' OBIDOME

TOSHIHIKO: A FINE MIXED METAL OBIDOME (SASH CLIP) WITH PLUM BLOSSOM
By Toshihiko, signed Toshihiko
Japan, first half of 20th century

Finely worked in shibuichi, copper, and gold as a plum (ume) blossom and bud. Note the very finely worked gold stamen. Signed to the side TOSHIHIKO. With an old cord for the attachment to the obi (sash).

LENGTH 2.9 cm
WEIGHT 8 g

Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear.
Provenance: French private collection.

The artist is probably the one listed in the Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on page 2040 (H 10354.0) with the remark: “a student and connoisseur of the Goto school and an exponent of its methods.”

The obidome (sash clips) are miniature mixed metal clips which were mounted to the obi (sash) with the help of a cord. Like kagamibuta netsuke and kanamono they were fashion accessories, many of them made by famous and celebrated metalwork artists who previously made sword fittings, which fell out of demand due to the Sword Abolishment Edict in 1876. The craftsmanship of these certainly rivaled those of the finest Western jewelers.