Kano Natsuo

A metalworker from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. His childhood name was Jisaburo. He was born on April 14, 1821 (Bunsei 11) to the Fushimi family in Kyoto, and was adopted by sword merchant Kano Jisuke at the age of five. He first studied under Okumura Shohachi, and then in 1840 (Tenpo 11) became a disciple of metalworker Ikeda Takatoshi of the Otsuki school, learning how to make sword fittings and how to paint under Nakajima Raisho of the Maruyama school. In 1846 (Koka 3), he opened a metalwork business in Kyoto, first calling himself Toshiaki, and later changing his name to Natsuo. In 1854 (Ansei 1), he moved to Edo. He produced many excellent sword fittings from this time until the beginning of the Meiji period, and was well-known for his high quality work. In 1869 (Meiji 2), when the Meiji government produced new coins, he worked at the Osaka Mint Bureau, where he was involved in making the prototypes. He returned to Tokyo in 1877, but since the sword ban had been lifted, there was no demand for sword fittings, so he found a way to survive by making netsuke (sword-attaching ornaments), incense holders, frames, decorative fittings, etc. In 1881, he exhibited his "Carp Frame" at the 2nd Domestic Industrial Exposition, and in 1890, he exhibited his "Vase with a Hundred Cranes" at the 3rd Domestic Industrial Exposition, both of which won first prizes for outstanding technique. In 1890, he was appointed an Imperial Household Artist and a professor at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. He passed away on February 3, 1898. His style was to express sketches on metal surfaces in a light, elegant way, and he left behind many elegant works. He was particularly skilled in katakiribori (carved carving), and one of his representative works is the "Moon and Geese Frame" (Tokyo National Museum).

[Harada Kazutoshi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

幕末・明治の金工家。幼名は治三郎。文政(ぶんせい)11年4月14日、京都の伏見(ふしみ)家に生まれ、5歳で刀剣商加納治助(じすけ)の養子となる。初め奥村庄八(しょうはち)に、ついで1840年（天保11）大月派の金工池田孝寿(たかとし)の門に入り、装剣金具の製作を学び、絵を円山(まるやま)派の中島来章(らいしょう)に習った。46年（弘化3）京都で金工を開業、初め寿朗(としあき)と名のり、のちに夏雄と改め、54年（安政1）江戸に出た。刀装金具の製作はこのころから明治の初めまでで、多くの優品をつくり、名声が高く、69年（明治2）明治政府の新貨幣製作にあたり、大阪造幣寮に出仕してその原型製作に従事した。77年東京に戻ったが、廃刀令後のため刀装金具の需要はなく、根付(ねつけ)、香合(こうごう)、額、飾り金具などの製作に活路をみいだした。81年に第2回内国勧業博覧会出品の『鯉魚図額(りぎょのずがく)』、90年に第3回内国勧業博覧会出品の『百鶴図花瓶(ひゃっかくのずかびん)』がいずれも妙技一等賞を受賞、90年に帝室技芸員、東京美術学校教授に任ぜられた。明治31年2月3日没。その作風は写生画を軽妙洒脱(しゃだつ)に金属面に表したもので、気品の高い作品を多く残している。とくに片切彫りを得意としており、その代表作に『月雁図額(つきにかりのずがく)』（東京国立博物館）がある。

［原田一敏］

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