Kantei

NH-0679 Rank 135

Fuchi-kashira · Yūrakusai

遊洛斎 (Yūrakusai)

Polished shibuichi fuchi-kashira with dragon and tiger in katakiribori and kebori, signed by Yūrakusai and papered NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu.

Fuchi-kashiraLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (19th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Fuchi-kashira on the classic dragon-and-tiger theme, titled by the certificate 龍虎図縁頭 (ryūko-zu fuchigashira). The kashira shows a dragon among clouds and branches, drawn in loose, energetic katakiribori; the fuchi carries a wind-swept tiger whose fur is rendered in very fine kebori. The metal is polished shibuichi, 四分一磨地 (shibuichi migaki-ji) according to the paper, with yellow-metal rims and shitodome and a copper tenjō on the fuchi. The cursive signature is engraved on that tenjō and transcribed by the paper as 応林氏需 遊洛斎 (probable reading: Ō Rin-shi ju Yūrakusai), followed by a kaō: a work made to order for a client named Hayashi. The original seller places it in the late Edo period and names the maker as Yūrakusai Sekibun. The photographs show a warm grey patina with no sign of repatination, crisp engraving and no knocks; the inside of the kashira shows the darkening usual on a hidden face. It comes with an NBTHK kanteisho recognising it as Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu, no. 2007362, dated April 2021.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2021)
  • Signed with kaō, signature accepted by the paper
  • Dragon and tiger theme shared between fuchi and kashira
  • Very fine kebori in the tiger's fur
  • Polished shibuichi with no sign of repatination

Points to bear in mind

  • Not dated: the period comes from the original seller and the style
  • The name Sekibun is given by the original seller; the paper records only Yūrakusai
  • Darkening and some verdigris inside the kashira

Score breakdown

59.3/100

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 2.3 of 10 Rank 21 of 27 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest