Type: Fuchi Material: Shakudo with gold and copper inlays Period: Edo (17–19th century) Mass: 11.8 g
This fuchi depicts flowing waves accented with a seashell rendered in gold raised inlay, alongside a worn copper inlay likely once representing another shell or marine detail. The inlays are deeply worn down from years of use. The combination of water and shell imagery symbolizes both the life-giving and unpredictable power of the sea.
The carving displays a balance of soft linework and controlled punchwork to convey the movement of water, set against a shakudo base with a deep black patina. The applied inlays, though showing wear and loss, demonstrate the mixed-metal technique prized in Edo-period fittings. The careful blending of carving, texturing, and inlay shows the hand of a practiced craftsman.
Wave motifs were widely produced by Edo artisans influenced by the Nara school and its offshoots, who favored naturalistic subjects and mixed-metal decoration. This piece most likely dates to the late Edo period, when decorative fittings with marine themes saw broad popularity.
