Kushi & Kogai Set – Black lacquered wood, mother-of-pearl chrysanthemum (kiku) floral motifs – Shōwa period

Features:

📅 Period: Shōwa (1926–1989) – estimated 1950s–70s
🧵 Material: Black lacquered wood (urushi 漆), mother-of-pearl inlay (螺鈿 raden)
🎨 Motifs:

• 菊 (kiku) – Chrysanthemum, longevity and nobility
• Stylized ornamental flowers (iridescent blue, pink, green mother-of-pearl)
• Sinuous curves evoking water or wind, fluidity and elegance

📏 Dimensions:

• Kushi comb: 10 x 5 cm
• Kogai pin: 16 cm long

Origin: Japan, unearthed in Hyōgo Prefecture.

📸 Condition: Vintage, good overall condition. Some micro-traces of use and slight imperfections in the inlay visible in the photos, without impacting the overall aesthetic. Complete set, rare in this double-sided configuration.

Elegant Japanese Shōwa-era set consisting of a traditional comb 櫛 (Kushi) and a matching hair pin 笄 (Kogai), made of black lacquered wood (urushi-nuri 漆塗り) and finely decorated with mother-of-pearl floral motifs in blue, green, pink, and ivory hues.

The floral composition, delicately inlaid on both sides, evokes the stylized efflorescence of 菊 (kiku), the imperial emblem, and other ornamental flowers cherished in Japanese decorative art. The iridescent reflections of the mother-of-pearl create a subtle play of light on the deep black lacquer background, bringing each motif to life and making each color burst when exposed to outdoor light.

The comb is decorated front and back with floral arabesques and sinuous curves, while the Kogai pin's stem features continuous floral decoration, visible from both front and back – a precious detail that reveals the artisanal care put into this set.

🦝 Our opinion:

At KOGEDO, we are particularly fond of this set for its refinement and the harmony of its colors. The raden inlay, a traditional Japanese mother-of-pearl inlay technique, gives this object a soft and precious light. To collect, offer, or wear with a vintage kimono – or for a refined contrast, with a contemporary creation by Kogedo l’Atelier.