An exquisite silver flattened vessel by Living National Treasure Kashima Ikkoku, decorated with pomegranates rendered in the extraordinarily refined technique of nunome-zōgan (textile-pattern inlay), enclosed in its original signed wooden box titled Nunome-Zōgan Zakuro-mon Gin Henko. Kashima's mastery of this technique is evident in the meticulous scoring of the metal surface with thousands of crosshatched incisions resembling woven cloth, into which thin foils of precious metal are carefully hammered to create intricate designs. The softly rounded, flattened body is ornamented with an elaborate geometric pattern, while the broad central panel, delicately outlined with a fine line of gold, depicts a branch bearing ripe pomegranates, one split open to reveal its clustered seeds. The contrast between the restrained silver body and the extraordinary precision of the inlaid decoration is particularly striking, the subtle gold border gracefully separating the naturalistic pomegranate design from the geometric patterns covering the shoulders and sides. The vessel is fitted with a finely formed stopper, measures 8.5 x 13.5 x 15 cm (3.3 x 5.3 x 5.9 inches), weighs 683 grams, and is in excellent condition.
The pomegranate, with its abundance of seeds, has long been associated with fertility, prosperity, and the continuity of generations in East Asian decorative arts. Here, Kashima transforms this familiar auspicious motif into an expression of extraordinary technical sophistication, balancing the quiet elegance of silver with the intricate precision of his inherited craft.
Kashima Ikkoku (1898–1996), born Kashima Eiichi in Tokyo, was raised in a distinguished family of traditional metalworkers, studying under his grandfather, Ikkokusai Mitsutaka, and his father, Ikkoku Mitsutaka. He became particularly celebrated for his mastery of nunome-zōgan, a technique preserved and refined through successive generations of his family. A founding member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1955, Kashima also applied his exceptional technical knowledge to the preservation and restoration of important cultural properties, including the National Treasure Kanki Sharitō (Golden Turtle Reliquary) at Tōshōdai-ji Temple and the gilt-bronze Buddhist hanging image at Jakumatsu-ji Temple. His achievements were recognized with numerous honors, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon, and in 1979 he was designated a Living National Treasure for his exceptional mastery of chōkin (metal engraving and carving). His artistic legacy and the family tradition of nunome-zōgan continued through his son, Kazuo.
