NH-0579 Rank 53
Tsuba · Umetada
埋忠 (Umetada)
Mokkō-shaped tsuba in hammered brass with pierced Genjikō symbols and engraved scrolls, signed Umetada and papered NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon.
Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
Description
Tsuba signed with the two characters 埋忠 (Umetada), chiselled beside the central opening on the front. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper records the signature without reservation and titles the piece as a pierced tsuba with a Genjikō design. The original seller remarks that the style of the signature recalls Umetada Myōju, but the paper does not say so. Mokkō in shape, it is worked in brass (shinchū) with a subtly hammered tsuchime surface and a dote-mimi rim. Above and below, the symbols of Genjikō, the incense-identification game associated with the Tale of Genji, are pierced in in-sukashi; the rest of the ground carries karakusa scrolls, a small crest and linear figures engraved in kebori and katakiribori. One of the two hitsu-ana has been filled with the same metal, and the central opening retains copper sekigane. The photographs show a warm, natural patina with small spots and surface pitting, without active rust or cracks. According to the original seller it measures 75.8 × 71.2 mm, 2.6 mm thick, weighs 101 g, and comes in a lacquered box with tatō. The Momoyama dating is declared by the seller and agrees with the style.
Strong points
- Signed Umetada, signature accepted by the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper
- Brass with tsuchime surface and warm natural patina
- Genjikō symbols pierced in in-sukashi
- Fluent kebori and katakiribori engraving
- Early Umetada school work, Momoyama period
Points to bear in mind
- The paper accepts the Umetada signature but does not attribute it to Umetada Myōju; that suggestion comes only from the original seller.
- The Momoyama dating is declared by the seller; the paper does not state it.
- Copper sekigane in the central opening and one hitsu-ana filled with the same metal.
- Small spots and surface pitting in the patina.
Score breakdown
64.3/100
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.
- Maker 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
- Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable work
- Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
- Period 11 of 12 Momoyama (1573–1615)
- Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
- Price 1.3 of 10 Rank 198 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest