Kantei

NH-0633 Rank 117

Tsuba · Bushū Masatoshi

政利 (Bushū Masatoshi)

Pierced shakudō tsuba with lilies and chrysanthemums, signed 武州住政利 (Bushū-jū Masatoshi), with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

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

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Mokkō-shaped tsuba in shakudō with a polished ground, signed on the front 武州住政利 (Bushū-jū Masatoshi), a craftsman of the Bushū school in Musashi province. The subject, which the paper titles 百合菊花図 (yuri kikka-zu), brings together lilies and chrysanthemums among leaves and buds: the lily petals have a granular texture and the stamens are inlaid in gold; on the reverse, insect-eaten leaves carry dewdrops in gold and silver. The work is 肉彫地透 (nikubori ji-sukashi): modelled relief over a pierced ground, with two hitsu-ana, one of them lobed, and a rounded rim (maru-mimi). The photographs show an even black patina, the gold intact and crisp relief; the rim has fine scratches, and the central opening retains copper sekigane, the upper one somewhat misshapen. The original seller gives 7.30 × 6.80 cm, 0.44 cm thickness and 95 g, and offers it in an uninscribed kiri box. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, no. 222792, dated 21 February 1997, records the signature and certifies the piece.

Strong points

  • Signature 武州住政利 (Bushū-jū Masatoshi) recorded by the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper
  • Polished shakudō with relief and dense openwork on both faces
  • Gold stamens and dewdrops in gold and silver
  • Even black patina with the gold intact
  • Comes in a kiri box

Points to bear in mind

  • The central opening has copper sekigane; the upper one looks somewhat misshapen.
  • Fine scratches on the rim, visible in the side photographs.
  • The late Edo dating comes from the original seller and from style; neither the paper nor the signature dates it.

Score breakdown

60.1/100

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 3.1 of 10 Rank 157 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest