NH-0649 Rank 31
Kozuka · Hirata Narimasa
平田就将 (Hirata Narimasa)
Shakudō kozuka with a nanako ground and three hares among horsetail in gold and silver takabori, signed by Hirata Narimasa and papered NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon.
Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
Description
Kozuka signed 平田就将 (Hirata Narimasa) with his kaō on the reverse. According to the original seller, Narimasa was the ninth head of the Hirata house, metalworkers in the service of the Tokugawa shogunate known for shippō enamel, and died in 1776. This piece is not enamelled: it shows the theme 木賊三疋兎図 (tokusa sanbiki usagi zu), three hares among horsetail stems. The photographs show a shakudō ground with fine, even nanako, three hares applied in takabori (one in gold, one in silver and one in silver mottled with shakudō) and the stems inlaid in gold; the frame and reverse are gold sheet with a brushed finish. The animals are lively in modelling and the composition is well balanced. Condition is good: intact black patina, crisp relief and no gold loss on the front, with light handling scratches on the reverse and a small mark on one edge. The NBTHK paper, dated 10 March 2020, grades it 特別保存刀装具 (tokubetsu hozon tōsōgu) and describes 赤銅魚子地 (shakudō nanako-ji), 高彫 (takabori) and 色絵 (iroe). The original seller gives dimensions of 9.8 × 1.5 cm and mentions a plain paulownia box.
Strong points
- Signature of Hirata Narimasa with kaō, confirmed by the paper
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper (2020)
- Three hares in gold, silver and shakudō takabori on fine nanako
- Gold-sheet frame and reverse
- Work of the Hirata house, metalworkers to the shogunate
Points to bear in mind
- Light handling scratches on the gold reverse and a small mark on one edge
- The dating rests on the maker's death date given by the seller; the piece itself is undated
- Not an example of shippō enamel, the Hirata family speciality
Score breakdown
67.8/100
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 7 of 12 Mid-Edo (1688–1781)
- Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
- Price 8.8 of 10 Rank 8 of 59 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest