Kantei

NH-0533 Rank 357

Tsuba · Kamiyoshi (Higo)

Iron tsuba of the Kamiyoshi school of Higo, pierced with the classic shadow-butterfly design (kage-chō sukashi), with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

TsubaLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (late 18th – 19th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Iron tsuba of slightly upright round shape (tate-marugata) with a rounded rim (maru-mimi), pierced with the kage-chō motif, the shadow butterflies, one of the most characteristic Higo designs, traditionally linked to the mountings of Hosokawa Sansai. The large openings trace the wings, while two pairs of small holes on the arms springing from the seppa-dai stand for the butterflies' eyes. It is mumei: the NBTHK paper attributes it to the Kamiyoshi family, heirs of the Hayashi line and the last great dynasty of Higo metalworkers. The photographs show finely grained polished iron, dark in tone with warm reddish glints, clean piercing lines and copper sekigane in the central opening. No active rust is visible; only light handling wear on the high points of the rim. According to the original seller it measures 80.8 × 79.3 mm, 3.7 mm thick, weighs 71 g, and comes in a fitted paulownia box. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper no. 2011695, dated 30 September 2025.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2025), attributed to Kamiyoshi
  • Kage-chō motif, an emblematic Higo design
  • Finely grained polished iron with a dark, stable patina
  • Clean, well-balanced piercing

Points to bear in mind

  • Mumei: authorship is the paper's attribution to the Kamiyoshi school, not a signature
  • The original seller dates it to late Muromachi, but the Kamiyoshi attribution points to the late Edo period
  • Copper sekigane in the central opening
  • Dimensions and weight as stated by the original seller

Score breakdown

46.1/100

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 9 of 25 Attributed to a school only
  2. Workmanship 10 of 20 Good work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 5 of 12 Late Edo (1781–1868)
  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 4.1 of 10 Rank 136 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest