Certification: NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho

Signature: 一宮越前大掾 長常 花押 Ichinomiya Echizen Daijō Nagatsune w/Kaō

Ichinomiya Nagatsune (1721-1786) was the founder of the Ichinomiya School, and was one of the preeminent machibori artists of his time. Nagatsune is considered the Western counterpart to Somin, of Edo, the Eastern machibori master. Nagatsune is listed as being a saijosaku, or meiko artist, a "great master" artisan (noted as AAA in the "Kinko Meikan" translation). 

Nagatsune received the title Echizen (no) Daijō 越前大掾 in 1770, and made this set sometime after that date. This is his late period, and is considered by many to be his finest period. It is this style that strongly influenced Kano Natsuo's work.

Nagatsune used the family names of Ichinomiya 一宮, Kashiwaya 柏屋, and Minamoto 源 at various times. He also used the art names and titles of; Chōtarō 長太郎, Chūhachi 忠八, Echizen (no) daijō 越前大掾 (late in his career), Ganshōshi 含章子 (mid career), Gyokusen'an 玉泉庵, and Setsusan 雪山 (early in his career).

The theme of roosters and chickens is done on a ground of shibuichi with hira-zogan inlay of gold, shakudo, silver, and copper, and both fine and bold katakiri-bori carving.

Photos by Jack Edick