Kantei

NH-0666 Rank 299

Tsuba · Yoshioka

Shakudō tsuba with a nanako ground and horse bits in raised gold, unsigned, attributed to the Yoshioka school by an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

TsubaLate Edo (1781–1868)Edo period (17th–19th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Tsuba of tate-marugata shape (round, slightly elongated vertically) in shakudō with a fine, very regular nanako ground. The design, kutsuwa chirashi-zu (轡散図, kutsuwa chirashi-zu: "scattered horse bits"), spreads several bits with their cheek bars and rings across both faces, linked by braided reins ending in tassels, worked in takabori with gold iro-e; the cords carry a minute braided chiselling. The piece is unsigned: the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, dated 30 September 2025, attributes it to the Yoshioka school, the lineage of metalworkers in the service of the Tokugawa shogunate whose masters used the title Inaba no Suke. In the photographs the shakudō keeps a deep black patina, the nanako is crisp and the gold is intact, with only a minute detail on one ring. According to the original seller, it measures 72.8 mm in height and 5.5 mm in thickness, weighs 158 g and comes with a paulownia box.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2025) attributing it to the Yoshioka school
  • Fine, regular shakudō nanako ground on both faces
  • Bits, braided reins and tassels in takabori with gold iro-e
  • Continuous composition spread across front and back
  • Deep original patina and gold without visible losses

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: the Yoshioka attribution comes from the paper, not a signature, and names no generation
  • Neither the paper nor the piece gives a date; the Edo-period dating is general
  • A small pale spot is visible at the join of one of the rings

Score breakdown

50.5/100

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 9 of 25 Attributed to a school only
  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 3.5 of 10 Rank 148 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest