Masters of the 
"Seven Treasures" of Cloisonne
Kodogu maker for Iyeyasu, his generations were artistic tradition for the house of Tokugawa throughout the Edo
School founder was Hirata Hikoshiro, who became known by his Buddhist name: Donin. He was TachiKanagu-Shi or Kodogu maker in Kyoto.
There is a story that he learned cloisonne from Korean artisens while on Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Korean Seibatsu in 1592. However, he would have been 2 years of age at the time.
It is also thought Donin learned cloisonne at Nagasaki from the Dutch.
The Nihonto Taikan notes that Japanese cloisonne may have originated from along the Silk Road. The Dutch were always the outside trading partners from the Momoyama through the Tokugawa eras in Nagasaki, which would include both ends of the Silk Road.

Tokugawa Iyeyasu elevated Donin along with his cloisonne as the official Kodogu maker and artist for the Shogunate and seated him to Sumpu, Suruga. Donin moved to Edo in 1616 with the new Shogun following Iyeyasu's death.
He has been called Tenka Ichi and rumered to have signed as such but there are no extant examples. Donin is attributed as founder of the Shippo tradition. 

 
 
 



 

Cloisonne became synonomus with the Hirata family and were the personal possessions of the Tokugawa. Its special techniques were coveted Hirata family secrets handed down from each father to the inheriting son. 
The generations of the Hirata walked through time with the generations of the Tokugawa to the 11th head, Nariyuki in the Meiji.
All Hirata headmasters are known as "Hikoshiro".
Hirata Kodogu have always been considered special items as personal treasures of the Tokugawa family and occupying a heralded position in the artistic sphere. We therefore find few signed examples. 
Hirata
Donin
 1591 - 1646
Narikazu
 Died 1652
Narihisa
 Died 1671
Shigekata
 Died 1714
Narikado
 Died 1757
Nariyuki
 Died 1770
Narisuke
 Died 1816
Harunari
 Died 1840
Narimasa
 Died 1850
Haruyuki
 Died 1895
Nariyuki
 Died 1900
Hirata Family
Hirata Hikoshiro Narikazu - Second Master
Son of Donin. Lived in Fuchu, Suruga and moved to Edo and worked under Tokugawa Iyemitsu.

Hirata Hikoshiro Narihisa - Third Master
Son of Narikazu. 1616 to 1671. Master of the Hirata House from 1648.

Hirata Hikoshiro Shigekata - Forth Master
Son of Narihisa. Art name: Honjo. 1662 to 1714. Fuchu, Surgua and then to Edo in 1701. 

Hirata Hikoshiro Narikado - Fifth Master
His art names were Eijo and Honjo. Born in 1670, his father brought him to Edo when he was 11 yeas old. Master from 1703. Kokubo carries his name as Nariyuki.

Hirata Hikoshiro Nariyuki - Sixth Master
Art names Ichizo and Kyuzo. Died in 1770.

Hirata Hikoshiro Narisuke - Seventh Master
Lived in Edo, died 1816. His art name: Ichizo.

Hirata Hikoshiro Harunari - Eigth Master
Tomokichi. 1809 to 1840. Son of Narisuke. Studied gold work under the Yasuda family. 

Hirata Hikoshiro Narimasa - Ninth Master
Art name: Ryozo. Son of Harinari, he lived in Edo. He took retirement as Hikoshiro Genjo. He is the last Shippo artisten of the Tokugawa. 

Hirata Hikoshiro Haruyuki - Tenth Master
Lived in Edo. 1839 to 1895. He was the adopted son of Narimasa and studied under Nariyuki. Remained with the Tokugawa Family in the Meiji period. 

Hirata Hikoshiro Nariyuki - Eleventh Master
Adopted by Haruyuki and began studies at 11 years of age. Became Head master in 1895.