Kantei

NH-0544 Rank 235

Futatokoro · Gotō

A matched kozuka and kōgai in shakudō with nanako ground and tachibana branches in high relief with gold accents, unsigned and attributed by the NBTHK to the Gotō school.

Futatokoro (kozuka and kōgai)Mid-Edo (1688–1781)Edo period (probably mid-Edo, 18th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

A futatokoro consisting of a kozuka and a kōgai decorated with the same motif: branches of tachibana, the Japanese wild orange, with fruit, leaves and blossoms. Both pieces are shakudō with a fine, even nanako ground; the motif is carved in takabori and enlivened with small touches of gold iroe. The kōgai ends in the classic lobed head with carved scrolls. Neither piece is signed. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, no. 2011546, dated 2025, describes them as 橘図二所 (tachibana-zu futatokoro), 赤銅魚子地 高彫 色絵 (shakudō nanako-ji takabori iroe) and attributes them to 後藤 (Gotō), the school that served the shogunal house for generations. The photographs show the black patina intact, crisp nanako and well-defined relief, with light wear from use on the edges and on the back of the kōgai. The original seller states that the set comes in a kiri box, without inscription.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper
  • Matched set: kozuka and kōgai sharing the tachibana motif
  • Shakudō with fine, even nanako
  • Takabori carving with gold iroe accents
  • Original patina in good condition

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: the paper attributes the set to the Gotō school in general, not to a specific master
  • The period is not stated on the paper; it is inferred from style
  • Light wear from use on the edges and on the back of the kōgai

Score breakdown

54/100

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 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 10 of 10 Rank 1 of 8 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest