Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 7.djvu/314

 (1660), which produced several generations of skilled experts; the Nomura, also of Yedo, founded by Masaoki (1650); the Wakabayashi of Toyama in Yetchiu, founded by Kaneko Denzaburo (1690); the Inouye of Kyōtō, founded by Saburozayemon (1650); the Yasui of Kyōtō, founded by Mitsusada (1650) and made specially famous by the incomparable chiseller Nagatsune (1770), commonly called Ichi-no-miya Yechizen; the Chiyo of Tsuyama (in Mimasaka), founded by Kinsuke (1680), whose experts produced magnificent silver work; the Kaneko of Kii, founded by Kichinojo (1640); the Uyemura of Kyōtō, founded by Yasunobu (1600) and made celebrated by Masuya Kuhei (1600), and Masuya Kichibei (1720); and greatest perhaps, of all these, the Iwamoto of Yedo, founded by Chiubei (1680), a pupil of Yokoya Sōmin. The century closed when Yanagawa Naomasa, one of the most renowned masters in the whole history of the art, was perpetuating in Yedo the noble style of his teacher Sōmin.

An immense quantity of beautiful work distinguished this century, and the names of many great experts appear in its annals, but it added nothing to the methods already practised. Scores of skilled chisellers devoted themselves to perfecting the processes of their predecessors without inventing any new technical mode, and, on the whole, it may be said that the distinguishing features of the century were elaboration of detail and splendour of decorative effect. Such developments were consistent with the spirit of the time, for the country had now enjoyed a