As part of our Japanese works of art collection we are delighted to offer this exceptional Meji period carved Iron Kogo by the highly regarded metal artist Ishii Masao (circa 1840 -1920), Stylistically speaking the Kogo is crafted in the manner of the famed metal craftsman Shoami Katsuyoshi (1832-1908), the adornments of the Kogo are the chrysanthemum (Kiku in Japanese, one of the “Four Gentlemen” known as Shikun in Japanese), a butterfly (Cho in Japanese, the insect that changes its form from an egg to the fully fledged butterfly, and symbolizes the transmigration of soul of the samurai --the Emblem of the Taira Clan), and the ladybird (Tento-mushi in Japanese, which literally means “Insect of Heaven’s Way”, the insect flies to the sky, and might indicate that the government is ruled by the mandate of Heaven). The engraving technique is superb and refined, deploying three dimensional Sukidashi-Bori (the body is carved away to leave the raised design), Takanikubori (high relief carvin...