Description
Antique Japanese Taisho Period Mixed Metals trinket dish 4 1/8" x 2 3/8", no<br>issues.. Great piece from the first quarter of the 20th century.<br><br>Fujii Yoshitoyo was born in 1868 in Kyoto, Japan. Some sources write "Yoshitoyo"<br>as "Biho" or "Miho", as 美豊 can be read in several ways. In addition, Fujii's<br>first name can be written either as 美豊 or 美豐, since 豊 kanji is the simplified<br>form of 豐. Fujii's family is known as early as 17th century and for four<br>generations has enjoyed renown as the producer of inlaid work of first rank.<br>Early in life, Yoshitoyo trained himself in this art, which led him to perceive<br>the fact that there was ample room for further improvements and developments.<br>Long experience and careful study gave him the skill and knowledge by which he<br>could perfect the art, but Kyoto in those days was quite conservative, so that<br>it was practically impossible for him to carry into practice the results of his<br>investigation. He left home and came to Tokyo, the centre of learning, where he<br>devoted himself to the art for a number of years, and finally succeeded in<br>introducing valuable improvements.<br>In 1902, at the age of 35, Fujii obtained his first patent from the Imperial<br>Government. In 1909 he was granted his second patent. His damascene work, being<br>made mostly from designs drawn by Prof. Bisei Unno of the Tokyo Fine Art School,<br>well met the taste and requirements of the time.
