Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The following examples show the divergence from the traditional Gotō manner which were displayed by members both of the main school and of the branch schools founded by various pupils.

The second offshoot from the main school were founded by Chōjō (d. 1616), brother of the 5^th Master. To it belong Seijō [Japanese text] I to VI, who all worked at Yedo during the 18^th and first half of the 19^th century. They specialised in fine silver wire inlay on iron as well as on soft metals.

A well marked group of sword-furniture, some of which is signed by various artists of Mino province, may possibly be connected with the main Gotō school.

A branch founded by Kwanjō (d. 1653), son of the 7^th Master of the main school, worked at Kiōto in the traditional iyebori manner until its own 7^th Master, Ichijō [Japanese text] (1789-1876), removed to Yedo and initiated a style of markedly individual character, which was perpetuated and developed by a number of brilliant pupils. Striking features of it are the thickened edge of the guard and the use of a rounded chisel or gouge to accompany or replace the V-shaped tool usual with katakiri engraving. Stampings of magnified snow-crystals are a feature peculiar to guards by Ichijō himself.

The Seijō

Tsuba with peony flower on each face (EAX.10895)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with lozenge-fret diaper and matsukawa, or overlapping lozenges (EAX.10896)    Round tsuba with fret patterns (EAX.10897)

Other non-classical Gotō work

Lenticular tsuba with hanawachigai, or interlaced circles enclosing karahana (EAX.10899)    Tsuba with hanawachigai, or interlaced circles enclosing karahana (EAX.10900)

Tsuba with toad, gourd bottle, and bag (EAX.10901)   

Mino-Gotō

Mokkō-shaped tsuba with peonies and shishi, or lion dogs (EAX.10901.a)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with grape vine (EAX.10901.b)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with autumn flowers (EAX.10902)

Tsuba with plum blossoms, pine needles, and dewdrops (EAX.10903)    Tsuba with heraldic flowers (EAX.10904)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with insects, autumn flowers, and dragons (EAX.10905)

Tsuba with scrolls and fūchō, or birds or paradise (EAX.10906)    Tsuba with scrolls and mon made from kiri, or paulownia leaves (EAX.10907)

Ichijō and his pupils

Tsuba with pine trees (EAX.10908)    Tsuba with maple branch and tanzaku, or poem card, with a poem by Sugawara no Michizane (EAX.10908.a)    Tsuba with figures in a landscape (EAX.10909)

Tsuba with Chinese sage and figures in a landscape (EAX.10910)    Tsuba with stellate shapes and pine needles (EAX.10911)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with snow crystals (EAX.10913)

Mokkō-shaped tsuba with Chinese sage standing with his attendant in a landscape (EAX.10914)    Tsuba with dragonflies and autumn plants by a stream (EAX.10915)    Tsuba with blossoming plum branches (EAX.10916)

Aori-mokkō-shaped tsuba with fukiyose, or autumn debris (EAX.10917)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with flowering plum branch (EAX.10918)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with flowering plum tree (EAX.10919)