NH-0512 Rank 336
Tsuba · Satsuma
Unsigned iron tsuba with a dragon among clouds and waves, attributed by its NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper to the Satsuma school.
Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
Description
Mumei iron tsuba in kurikomi mokkō shape, attributed by its paper to the Satsuma school. The unryū theme (dragon among clouds) runs across both faces: on the front the dragon's head and body encircle the central opening amid swirling clouds and waves, and on the back its spine and a claw continue among further clouds. The ground is polished iron (tetsu migaki-ji) and the carving combines katakiri-bori and shishiai-bori, with carefully chiselled scales, claws and crests and fine line work; small clusters of ring punches enliven the ground. The rim is uchikaeshi-mimi and the two side openings are lined with white-metal rings. The photographs show a dark, even and stable patina, with no active rust or cracks and only light rubbing on the high points. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, number 2007497, dated July 2021, describes it as an unryū-zu tsuba, mumei, Satsuma. The period comes from the listing and the style, not from the paper. The original seller gives dimensions of 8.2 × 7.8 cm and a rim thickness of 0.5 cm.
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper visible in the photographs
- Dragon among clouds and waves continuing across both faces
- Katakiri-bori and shishiai-bori carving on polished iron
- Dark, stable patina with no active rust or cracks
Points to bear in mind
- Unsigned: attributed only to the Satsuma school, not to a maker
- The period is inferred from style and the listing; the paper does not state it
- The side openings have white-metal rings whose metal could not be identified
Score breakdown
48.1/100
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 10 of 20 Good 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 6.1 of 10 Rank 90 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest