| Peonies have long been regarded as the “king of flowers,” and their dignified and elegant appearance has made them a favored symbol of wealth, prosperity, and refinement. This work, depicting a single peony blossom, emphasizes the flower itself, rendered with bold depth and three-dimensional carving, and expressed in the brilliant and auspicious tones of solid gold.The artist, Unsui-ken Toshinobu, whose name appears in a divided tanzaku-style signature, was a disciple of Kikuoka Mitsutoshi, a metalsmith who was granted the privilege of using the Kikuoka family name. Toshinobu was an Edo-based metalworker active in the late Edo period.This pair of solid gold menuki delicately captures the luxurious beauty of the peony with refined craftsmanship. The piece passed the Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu Shinsa in 2013. |
Search
