Kantei

NH-0568 Rank 323

Kozuka · Higo

Polished iron kozuka with gold zōgan of chrysanthemums, paulownia and karakusa scrolls, attributed by the paper to the Higo school. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

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

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Unsigned kozuka attributed by the NBTHK paper to the Higo school, 無銘 肥後 (mumei Higo). The paper describes it as 菊桐唐草図小柄 (kiku kiri karakusa zu kozuka), with a 鉄磨地 (tetsu migaki-ji) ground and 象嵌 (zōgan) inlay. The photographs show a polished iron plate covered by a continuous frieze of open chrysanthemums, paulownia leaves and blossoms and lobed leaves, linked by undulating karakusa tendrils. The hira-zōgan combines yellow gold with a paler, greenish gold alloy, giving the design a chromatic depth; leaf veins are engraved in kebori. Both ends carry a gold covering and the reverse is plain iron. In the photographs the inlays are complete, the gilding of the ends intact and the iron keeps a dark, stable patina, with a few minute reddish specks next to the inlays. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper no. 2011775, dated 令和七年九月三十日 (Reiwa nana-nen kugatsu sanjūnichi), that is 30 September 2025.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper
  • Hira-zōgan in two tones of gold on polished iron
  • Chrysanthemum, paulownia and karakusa motif in a continuous design
  • Inlays complete and gilded ends intact

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: the paper attributes it only to the Higo school, without a maker
  • The paper gives no period; late Edo is inferred from style
  • A few minute reddish specks next to the inlays on the front

Score breakdown

48.9/100

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 6.9 of 10 Rank 19 of 59 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest