| This pair of menuki, unsigned but attributed to Goto Teijo, depicts Hotei and Chinese children in katachibori on solid gold ground. In Kan’ei 13 (1636), Teijo succeeded as the ninth head of the main Goto family and assumed the name Rihei. Under orders from the Tokugawa shogunate, he traveled between Kyoto and Edo. The plump Hotei reclines comfortably in a boat-shaped vessel, surrounded by playful children. Hotei’s gentle smile and ample belly, together with the children’s lively expressions and gestures, are skillfully rendered through meticulous chisel work. The rounded figures, generous relief, and finely executed details reflect the dignity of the Goto tradition and its assured craftsmanship. This is a large, substantial pair of solid gold menuki with in-yo-ne (yin-yang mounting posts), making full use of the richness and volume of the gold, weighing 26 g in total. The menuki passed the Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu shinsa in 1996. |
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