Kantei

NH-0529 Rank 27

Kozuka · Gotō Tsūjō Mitsuyoshi

後藤通乗光美 (Gotō Tsūjō Mitsuyoshi)

Shakudō nanako kozuka with a bundle of omodaka in takabori and gold iroe, signed by Gotō Tsūjō Mitsuyoshi, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

KozukaMid-Edo (1688–1781)Mid-Edo period (18th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Kozuka signed on the reverse 通乗作 光美 (Tsūjō saku Mitsuyoshi) with kaō, the signature of Gotō Tsūjō Mitsuyoshi, eleventh head of the main Gotō line, the official fittings school of the shogunal house. The front, of black shakudō with a fine and even nanako ground, shows a tied bundle of omodaka (arrowhead) carved in takabori, with the leaves in gold iroe and the small flowers in a pale metal. The frame and reverse are gilt, and the signature is chiselled in two columns. The photographs show the piece in good condition: crisp nanako, intact gilding, no visible knocks or rust. The NBTHK paper, 特別保存刀装具 (tokubetsu hozon tōsōgu) no. 2008682, dated July 2022, titles it 束沢瀉図小柄 (tabane omodaka-zu kozuka), describes it as 赤銅魚子地 高彫 色絵 (shakudō nanako-ji takabori iroe) and accepts the signature. According to the original seller, it comes in a kiri box.

Strong points

  • Signed by Gotō Tsūjō Mitsuyoshi of the main Gotō line
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper accepting the signature
  • Shakudō nanako with omodaka bundle in takabori and gold iroe
  • Gilt frame and reverse in good condition

Points to bear in mind

  • Undated: the period is inferred from the maker
  • Photographs of moderate size, without close-ups of the carving

Score breakdown

68.1/100

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.

  1. Maker 25 of 25 Genuine signature of a first-rank master, confirmed by the paper
  2. Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 7 of 12 Mid-Edo (1688–1781)
  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 3.1 of 10 Rank 41 of 59 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest