Kantei

NH-0668 Rank 114

Kozuka · Gotō Tokujō

後藤徳乗 (Gotō Tokujō)

Kozuka with three shakudō crows applied on a gold nanako ground; the Tokubetsu Hozon paper attributes the motif to Gotō Tokujō.

KozukaMomoyama (1573–1615)Momoyama period (late 16th – early 17th century), based on the motif's attributionNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Unsigned kozuka with the three-crows theme, sanba-garasu-zu (三羽烏図). The NBTHK paper, Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu (特別保存刀装具), issued in 2016, attributes the applied motif to Gotō Tokujō with the formula mon Tokujō (紋徳乗). Tokujō was the fifth master of the main Gotō line and worked in the Momoyama and early Edo periods. The photographs show a front of fine, very even gold nanako on which three black shakudō crows, carved in relief and applied (suemon), are set, with finely chiselled plumage and gold eyes (kin iroe); the back is plain polished shakudō. The composition, with two birds entwined in flight and a third calling, is full of movement. Condition is good: the nanako and the gold are intact, the shakudō patina is deep and the back shows only light marks of use. The original seller gives dimensions of 9.72 × 1.49 cm and mentions a paulownia box.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper
  • Motif attributed by the paper to Gotō Tokujō, master of the main Gotō line
  • Three shakudō crows carved in relief, with gold eyes
  • Fine, even gold nanako ground, well preserved

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: the paper attributes only the mon (the applied motif), not the ground plate, which may be later
  • The period is inferred from the attribution; the paper does not date the piece
  • No photograph of the edge; the back shows light scratches from use

Score breakdown

60.2/100

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 15 of 25 Unsigned, attributed by the paper to a master
  2. Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 11 of 12 Momoyama (1573–1615)
  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 1.2 of 10 Rank 52 of 59 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest