Kantei

NH-0685 Rank 242

Kozuka · Ko-Gotō

Unsigned shakudō kozuka with a nanako ground and three mushrooms in takabori with gold iroe, attributed to Ko-Gotō by an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

KozukaMuromachi or earlier (before 1573)Muromachi period (attribution; undated)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

A 無銘 (mumei) kozuka attributed by the NBTHK paper to the Ko-Gotō group, that is, early work in the Gotō school style preceding or outside the identified masters of its main line. The subject is 茸図 (kinoko-zu), mushrooms: three small fungi in takabori clustered at the centre of the face, one with a gold cap, one in a silvery grey tone and a smaller one in shakudō, with tiny gold accents. The ground is shakudō with fine, even nanako, and the reverse is plain polished shakudō. The photographs show intact nanako, a deep black patina, fine scratches on the gold and light wear marks on the reverse and edges, with no knocks or cracks. The 特別保存刀装具 (tokubetsu hozon tōsōgu) paper, no. 2010549, dated 26 March 2024, describes the piece as 赤銅魚子地 高彫 色絵 (shakudō nanako-ji takabori iroe). According to the original seller it measures 9.30 × 1.26 cm and comes in a paulownia wood box.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper attributing it to Ko-Gotō
  • Fine, even nanako ground in shakudō
  • Mushroom composition in takabori with gold iroe
  • Deep black patina and good overall condition

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: a group attribution (Ko-Gotō), not to a named master
  • The paper gives no date; the original seller places it in the Edo period, the index in Muromachi
  • Fine scratches on the gold and wear marks on the reverse

Score breakdown

53.7/100

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 9 of 25 Attributed to a school only
  2. Workmanship 10 of 20 Good work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 12 of 12 Muromachi or earlier (before 1573)
  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 4.7 of 10 Rank 32 of 59 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest