Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Uchigatana koshirae with a single-artist set of silver fittings on the theme of returning geese, tsuba and fuchi signed by Miyata Nobukiyo, and a black lacquered saya with clouds.
An uchigatana koshirae built around a set of silver fittings by a single artist, Miyata Nobukiyo, a late-Edo metalworker trained, according to the original seller, under masters of the Gotō school. The photographs show the signature 宮田信清 (Miyata Nobukiyo) followed by his 花押 (kaō) beside the central opening of the tsuba and on the plate of the fuchi. The theme is returning geese (kigan) over a reed bed: the silver mokkō-shaped tsuba, with an ishime ground, shows geese in flight and reeds in relief with gold accents on both faces, while the kashira, fuchi, kurikata, origane and kojiri repeat the geese in kebori over a ground of oblique lines suggesting evening light. The menuki, also in silver, depict geese and reeds beneath a blue-green tsuka-ito over white samé. The saya is lacquered in black ishime with a raised cloud pattern and, according to the original seller, is of the ireko type, with a removable inner sleeve. The photographs show the ensemble in good condition, with no visible knocks or rust. The original seller declares an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper, which does not appear in the photographs.
Strong points
- Single-artist set of silver fittings on one unified theme
- Tsuba and fuchi signed by Miyata Nobukiyo with kaō
- Tsuba in relief with gold accents and fine kebori on the other fittings
- Black ishime lacquered saya with cloud pattern
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper declared by the original seller
Points to bear in mind
- The declared paper does not appear in the photographs
- Only the tsuba and fuchi show a signature; the other fittings are attributed to the same hand by style and by the listing
- Slight darkening of the silver and reddish traces on the reverse of the tsuba
- The tsuka-ito looks fresh, possibly renewed
Score
67 / 100
- Maker 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
- Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable work
- Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
- Period 5 of 12 Late Edo (1781–1868)
- Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
- Price 10 of 10 Rank 1 of 2 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest
The score shares out 100 points: Maker 25 · Workmanship 20 · Condition 18 · Period 12 · Paper 10 · Extras 5 · Price 10. It is computed from the record, not from an opinion. Maker, workmanship, condition and period are judged from the photographs and the paper; price is compared only with fittings of the same type.
Details
- Type
- Koshirae without blade
- Maker
- Miyata Nobukiyo
- Period
- Late Edo (1781–1868)
- Material
- Silver, Gold, Other material
- Paper
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Signature
- Signed
- School
- Gotō (rama de discípulos)
- Inscription
- 宮田信清 (Miyata Nobukiyo) 花押 (kaō)
- Technique
- Takabori (high relief), Iroe (coloured inlay), Kebori (line engraving), Other technique
- Dating
- Late Edo period (19th century)