| The sheep (hitsuji), corresponding to the zodiac sign Hitsuji (the Goat/Sheep) in the Japanese twelve-animal zodiac, was not native to Japan. Until actual animals were introduced, it was often depicted almost as an imaginary creature. Because of its gentle nature and its tendency to live in flocks, the sheep was regarded as a symbol of peace and harmony.In the iconography of Japanese sword fittings, depictions of sheep are quite rare. This pair of shakudō menuki represents two sheep with lively movement and expressive features, rendered with dignity and refinement.The piece is preserved in a double storage box (the inner box made of kiri wood), bearing an inscription by Kanzan Satō:Omote: “Menuki – Ko-Gotō, Pair of Sheep”Ura: “Shakudō ground, katachi-bori carving, unsigned Ko-Gotō. Written by Kanzan in 1972 (cyclical year Mizunoe-ne), with kao.”The fittings were attributed to Ko-Gotō and later passed the 2013 NBTHK Hozon Tōsōgu shinsa. |
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