Kantei

NH-0513 Rank 167

Tsuba · Ko-Shōami

Round iron tsuba with wave openwork (nami-sukashi), unsigned and attributed by the NBTHK to the early Ko-Shōami school, with Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

TsubaMomoyama (1573–1615)Momoyama period (late 16th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Unsigned maru-gata iron tsuba, attributed by its NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper to the Ko-Shōami school, the early branch of the Kyoto Shōami. The design is a nami-sukashi: stylised waves pierced through the plate, arranged in a cross around the central ana and linked to two rectangular side openings, with calm symmetry and confident lines. The rim is kaku-mimi ko-niku, square with a gently rounded profile, as recorded on the paper (丸形 鉄地 地透 角耳小肉, marugata tetsuji jisukashi kakumimi koniku). The photographs show well-forged iron with good texture and a dark brown patina, stable and even on both faces and on the rim, with no active rust or cracks; there is light wear from use and sekigane in the central opening. The original seller gives dimensions of 6.7 × 6.9 cm and a rim thickness of 0.45 cm. The paper, number 2009134, is dated 22 December 2022 (令和四年十二月二十二日, Reiwa yonen jūnigatsu nijūninichi).

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper visible in the photographs
  • Attributed to the early Ko-Shōami school
  • Balanced, symmetrical wave openwork (nami-sukashi)
  • Original, stable dark patina with no active rust

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: a school attribution, not a maker's signature
  • Sekigane in the central opening
  • The period is inferred from school and style; the paper does not state it

Score breakdown

58/100

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.

  1. Maker 9 of 25 Attributed to a school only
  2. Workmanship 10 of 20 Good work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 11 of 12 Momoyama (1573–1615)
  5. Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
  6. Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
  7. Price 10 of 10 Rank 2 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest