Yoshioka Kozuka

        Here is a kozuka with turtles on a ocean back ground. The waves are carved in shakudo with silver crests. The turtles are done in shakudo with gold shells and there is a gold frame around the composition. This piece is signed Yoshioka Inaba no Suke. It has Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu papers from the NBTHK. It is unclear which generation made this kozuka as it was very rare for the Yoshioka artists to sign with their individual name. The composition and execution of this design is outstanding however and a testament to the ability of this family of metal smiths.