Lot 289

American Waltham Watch Co. / Komai, Kyoto

A rare, ornamental Komai pocket watch with Japanese woodcut motif of the city of Hakone on Lake Ashinoko, manufactured in "nunome-zogan" technique

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The inner lid shows a rectangular cartouche with the Japanese signature "Kyoto-shi Komai-sei" (Kyoto City – made by Komai). The back cover features a woodcarving view of the village of Hakone near Mount Fuji and the Ashinoko lake, with a Japanese caption in the upper right-hand corner.
The Komai family were making exquisite swords in Kyoto for generations. In 1853 the family developed a special procedure of damascening: "Nunome-Zogan", where the surface is first engraved with crosshatched lines and later inlaid with fine gold or silver wire to create exquisite scenes of great detail. When the Edict of 1876 ended the privilege of bearing swords, the Komai family had to switch to ornamenting everyday objects with their damascene art. They produced a great number of objects such as combs and buttons but also cabinets and shrines. They quickly gained an international reputation and were regularly honoured with prizes and awards at international exhibitions. As much of the work was exported, only very few pieces remain in Japan today that were made by Komai.