Antique Japanese Signed Umetada Narimasa Metal Kogai Hair Arranger Sword Accesory

Item Details

An antique signed Umetada School Japanese metal kogai. The metal hairpin is cast in a ruddy alloy and is decorated with a a large black bird of prey perched on the branch of a pine tree embellished with gold-tone overlay. Metal kogai were often carried in sword scabbards and used to arrange and hold hairstyles. The piece is signed ‘Forged by Umetada Narimasa’ (埋忠就昌之 Umetada Narimasa kore on the reverse, a smith attributed to the late Edo period (1611-1868). 1938.0165

Provenance
Collected in the late 19th and early 20th century and donated to a Private Midwestern Institution in 1938
Sold to enhance and preserve the Institution’s mission-relevant Collections

Condition

- consistent with age.

Dimensions

Item #

17COL077-311