NH-0669 Rank 105
Menuki · Ko-Gotō
A pair of shakudō menuki, each showing two intertwined monkeys modelled in the round with gold eyes, attributed to Ko-Gotō by an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.
Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
Description
A pair of menuki depicting two monkeys embracing (nihiki enkō-zu) on each piece, carved in katabori, that is, modelled in the round like small sculptures, with the eyes picked out in gold (kin iroe). They are unsigned, as is usual for early Gotō work. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, dated 19 November 2015, describes them as mumei and attributes them to Ko-Gotō, the designation grouping the early work of the Gotō line. The photographs show a deep, lustrous black shakudō, soft and rounded modelling of the heads, arms and intertwining tails, and hands and feet with clearly defined fingers. The high points of the heads show the sheen of handling wear without loss of detail, and the gold of the eyes survives on both pieces. The backs are hollow and filled with an old brownish material around a smooth central area; no mounting pegs are visible. According to the original seller, they measure 3.23 cm and 3.32 cm in width and come in a kiri wood box.
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2015) attributing them to Ko-Gotō
- Deep black shakudō with soft, expressive katabori modelling
- Gold eyes (kin iroe) preserved on both pieces
- Lively composition: two intertwined monkeys on each menuki
Points to bear in mind
- Unsigned: a school attribution, not a signed work
- Hollow backs filled with an old material, with no visible mounting pegs
- The dating follows the attribution; the original seller's listing states Edo period
Score breakdown
60.7/100
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.
- Maker 9 of 25 Attributed to a school only
- Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable work
- Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
- Period 12 of 12 Muromachi or earlier (before 1573)
- Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
- Price 6.7 of 10 Rank 8 of 22 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest