Certification: NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho

Signature: 長常 花押 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 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).

This "flock of sparrows" is boldly carved in high relief on a ground of copper, with inlays of gold, shakudo, and silver.

Photos by Jack Edick