Kantei

NH-0651 Rank 80

Kozuka · Azuma Masatsune

東益常 (Azuma Masatsune)

Shakudō kozuka with a nanako ground and a kusudama in high relief inlaid with gold, silver and copper, signed 東益常 (Azuma Masatsune) with kaō, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

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

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Kozuka signed on the ura 東益常 (Azuma Masatsune), followed by his kaō. According to the original seller, Azuma Masatsune was a pupil of Gotō Mitsuyoshi, fifteenth head of the main Gotō line, and the piece follows the refined taste of that school. The omote, in shakudō with a fine and even nanako ground, depicts a kusudama, the ball of flowers and fragrant herbs hung on the fifth day of the fifth month to ward off evil: a cluster of silver blossoms with gold centres around a large shakudō flower, chiselled leaves and an ornamental knot from which braided cords of gold, silver, copper and shakudō cascade. The work combines takabori, zōgan and iroe, with the twist of every cord and the veins of the leaves crisply defined. The ura and the frame are gilt, with a fine striated finish. The photographs show a deep, even black patina, all inlays intact, a small flaw on the upper edge of the omote frame and light scuffs on the ura. NBTHK paper no. 2011420, dated 1 April 2025, rates it 特別保存刀装具 (Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu) and describes it as a kozuka with a kusudama motif in shakudō nanako-ji with takabori, zōgan and iroe, signed 東益常 (Azuma Masatsune) with kaō. It comes in a paulownia otoshi-bako. Declared size: 9.7 × 1.5 cm.

Strong points

  • Signature 東益常 (Azuma Masatsune) with kaō, confirmed by the paper
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper (2025)
  • Fine, even nanako on deeply patinated shakudō
  • Finely detailed braided cords in gold, silver, copper and shakudō
  • Auspicious kusudama motif in the Gotō taste

Points to bear in mind

  • Small flaw on the upper edge of the omote frame, visible in the photographs
  • Light scuffs and scratches on the gilt ura
  • The link to Gotō Mitsuyoshi is stated by the original seller, not by the paper

Score breakdown

62.7/100

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 5.7 of 10 Rank 26 of 59 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest