Kantei

NH-0604 Rank 172

Tsuba · Azuma Masutsune (Gotō school)

東益常 (Azuma Masutsune)

Tate-marugata shakudō nanako tsuba with Jurōjin, cranes and a turtle in takabori and iroe, signed by Azuma Masutsune, pupil of Gotō Mitsuyoshi, with Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

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

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

A tsuba of tate-marugata shape (slightly taller than wide) with a kaku-mimi ko-niku rim, signed on the seppa-dai «後藤光美弟子 東益常 (Gotō Mitsuyoshi deshi Azuma Masutsune)» with kaō: Azuma Masutsune, a pupil of Gotō Mitsuyoshi. The subject is auspicious: Jurōjin, god of longevity, accompanied by the crane and the turtle, both emblems of long life. On the obverse, Jurōjin with staff and fan, a standing silver crane and a small figure; on the reverse, a crane in flight, a gold cloud with a striated surface and a turtle with a gilt shell. The ground is a very fine and regular shakudō nanako laid out in concentric rings, with the figures in takabori, zōgan and gold and silver iroe, in the refined manner of the Gotō school. The photographs show good condition: crisp nanako, patina free of rust and complete figures; the seppa-dai has a silvery finish with small mounting marks. The NBTHK paper certifies it as Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu and confirms the signature. According to the original seller it measures 77.9 × 73.1 mm. It comes in a wooden box with a lined cushion.

Strong points

  • Signed by Azuma Masutsune, pupil of Gotō Mitsuyoshi, signature confirmed by the paper
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper
  • Very fine, regular shakudō nanako in concentric rings
  • Auspicious longevity theme: Jurōjin, cranes and turtle in takabori with gold and silver iroe

Points to bear in mind

  • Work of a pupil of Gotō Mitsuyoshi, not of the main Gotō line
  • The seppa-dai shows a silvery finish with mounting marks not described by the paper
  • The rim is not photographed in close-up
  • Dimensions as stated by the original seller

Score breakdown

57.9/100

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 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
  2. Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable 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 0.9 of 10 Rank 207 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest