This is a pair of small menuki depicting monkeys holding chestnuts, attributed to the Goto school from the Momoyama period. Crafted from shakudo with high-relief carving and gold overlay, the intricate details of the monkeys' faces and the chestnuts are particularly well-executed. Despite the attribution to Momoyama, the seller suggests an early Edo period dating based on the construction of the legs.
mumei · Goto · Momoyama

Goto School
Momoyama
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Iebori · Yamashiro
300 pieces on the market now
The Goto house stands as the preeminent dynasty of sword-fitting makers in the history of Japanese metalwork, an unbroken lineage of seventeen generations spanning from the founding master Yujo (1440--1512), who served Ashikaga Yoshimasa amid the refined culture of Higashiyama, through the final head Hojo (1816--1856) in the closing years of the Tokugawa shogunate. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Goto Joshin後藤乗真 | 1512-1562 | 69 |
| Goto Yujo後藤祐乗 | 1440-1512 | 41 |
| Goto Kenjo後藤顕乗 | 1586-1663 | 46 |
| Goto Sojo後藤宗乗 | 1461-1538 | 55 |
| Goto Eijo後藤栄乗 | 1577-1617 | 35 |
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns accepted within 7 days of arrival if item is unchanged from condition at time of sale; customer bears return shipping for personal-reason returns, company covers errors/shipping damage.
This is a pair of small menuki depicting monkeys holding chestnuts, attributed to the Goto school from the Momoyama period. Crafted from shakudo with high-relief carving and gold overlay, the intricate details of the monkeys' faces and the chestnuts are particularly well-executed. Despite the attribution to Momoyama, the seller suggests an early Edo period dating based on the construction of the legs.
mumei · Goto · Momoyama

Goto School
Momoyama
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Iebori · Yamashiro
300 pieces on the market now
The Goto house stands as the preeminent dynasty of sword-fitting makers in the history of Japanese metalwork, an unbroken lineage of seventeen generations spanning from the founding master Yujo (1440--1512), who served Ashikaga Yoshimasa amid the refined culture of Higashiyama, through the final head Hojo (1816--1856) in the closing years of the Tokugawa shogunate. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Goto Joshin後藤乗真 | 1512-1562 | 69 |
| Goto Yujo後藤祐乗 | 1440-1512 | 41 |
| Goto Kenjo後藤顕乗 | 1586-1663 | 46 |
| Goto Sojo後藤宗乗 | 1461-1538 | 55 |
| Goto Eijo後藤栄乗 | 1577-1617 | 35 |
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns accepted within 7 days of arrival if item is unchanged from condition at time of sale; customer bears return shipping for personal-reason returns, company covers errors/shipping damage.