Kantei

NH-0590 Rank 237

Tsuba · Kiteki

其適 (Kiteki)

Shibuichi tate-marugata tsuba signed Kiteki with kaō, showing Takenouchi no Sukune and the dragon god's messenger amid waves in high relief with gold inlay. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

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

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

A tate-marugata tsuba (slightly taller than wide) in shibuichi, signed 其適 (Kiteki) with his kaō. The paper titles it 武内宿祢応神帝龍神使者図鐔 (Takenouchi no Sukune Ōjin-tei ryūjin shisha zu tsuba): the front shows Takenouchi no Sukune, the legendary minister associated with Emperor Ōjin, standing by a boat on a rough sea; the back shows the dragon god's messenger rising from the waves holding a jewel. Finely chiselled waves cover the whole field, with clouds and spray in inlaid gold. According to the paper the technique is sukidashi takabori with zōgan iroe and a sukinokoshi mimi rim. The photographs show an even dark patina, intact gilding and no visible rust or knocks. The original seller gives dimensions of 7.4 × 7.1 cm and 0.4 cm thickness at the seppa-dai. The paper is an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu certificate, no. 2002177, dated 16 January 2015, which confirms the signature.

Strong points

  • Signed Kiteki with kaō, signature confirmed by the paper
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2015)
  • Legendary subject told across both faces
  • Shibuichi with high relief and gold inlay

Points to bear in mind

  • The photographs are small and do not show the rim edge
  • The paper gives no school or period; the late Edo dating comes from the original seller and the style

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 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
  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 2 of 10 Rank 182 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest