NH-0509 Rank 122
Kōgai · Ko-Gotō
Shakudō kōgai with two boats on a ground of waves in high relief, unsigned and attributed to Ko-Gotō; designated Jūyō kodōgu by the NBTHK at its 19th session (1970).
Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
Description
Unsigned kōgai attributed by the paper to 古後藤 (Ko-Gotō), the name given to works by the first generations of the Gotō main line in the Muromachi period (Yūjō, Sōjō and Jōshin) when the individual hand cannot be determined. It depicts two cargo boats on a broad ground of waves (namiji), carved in high, deep takabori on shakudō of an intense black; the lines of the water are chiselled one by one and the crests curl into scrolls. At the shoulder, the 蕨手 (warabite) finial is in gold. The reverse is plain shakudō. The photographs show a deep, even black patina with faint greenish tones in the recesses, fine rubbing marks and some surface dirt on the reverse and near the tip, with no visible dents or cracks. According to the paper, it measures 22.8 cm in length and 1.5 cm across the shoulder. The NBTHK certificate, dated 1 June 1970, designates it 重要小道具 (Jūyō kodōgu) at the 19th session, and the zufu text places it in the late Muromachi period and regards it as an outstanding work of the Gotō school. It comes with its box bearing an inscription by Satō Kanzan.
Strong points
- Designated Jūyō kodōgu by the NBTHK (19th session, 1970)
- Early work of the Gotō main line, late Muromachi period
- High, deep takabori on shakudō of an intense black
- Gold warabite finial at the shoulder
- Box with inscription (hakogaki) by Satō Kanzan
Points to bear in mind
- Unsigned: the Ko-Gotō attribution is to a school, not to a specific maker
- Fine rubbing marks and surface dirt on the reverse and near the tip
- The original seller states mid-Muromachi (c. 1440); the paper says late Muromachi
Score breakdown
60/100
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.
- Maker 9 of 25 Attributed to a school only
- Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable work
- Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
- Period 12 of 12 Muromachi or earlier (before 1573)
- Paper 8 of 10 NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu
- Extras 2 of 5 Adds: box inscribed by an expert (hakogaki)
- Price 0 of 10 Rank 9 of 9 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest