A squirrel in Chinkin etched gold and silver looks back under the draped leaves of a maple, a crescent of mother of pearl moon shining through the branches. It is 39 x 9 x 6.5 cm (15-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 2-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Itaya Koji (1925-2006) was born in the lacquer center of Wajima and studied from 1945 under Morishita Kodo before apprenticing under future living national treasure Mae Taiho inheriting highly artistic techniques that express movement and a sense of three-dimensionality using the flat chinkin (gold-inlay carving) technique. In 1948, he was first selected for the 4th Nitten Exhibition. In 1966, he was first selected for the 13th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. In 1988, he received the Minister of Education Award at the 35th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition.
