Kantei

NH-0701 Rank 316

Tsuba · Owari kinkō

Lobed shakudō tsuba with scrolling vines and chrysanthemums on a nanako ground, unsigned and attributed to the Owari kinkō school by an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

TsubaLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (19th century), by styleNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

An unsigned tsuba which the NBTHK paper attributes to the Owari kinkō, the soft-metal craftsmen of Owari province. The paper titles it 菊花唐草図 (kikka karakusa-zu), 'chrysanthemums and scrolling vines': over a fine, even nanako ground run spiralling karakusa tendrils scattered with chrysanthemum blossoms, carved in recessed relief (sukidashi-bori) and framed by a reserved rim (sukinokoshi-mimi). The shape is irregular (kawarigata): four lobes, two large pierced windows and four slits cutting into the outline. The metal is shakudō, with a blue-black patina that the photographs show as natural and even. Condition is good: the nanako is intact and the relief crisp; the seppa-dai shows light wear from use and the central opening retains its copper sekigane. Dimensions according to the original seller: 7.47 × 6.87 cm, 0.50 cm thick, 120 g; supplied in a paulownia box. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper no. 2005297, dated 16 November 2018.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper
  • Shakudō with a fine, even nanako ground
  • Chrysanthemum and scrolling-vine motif in sukidashi-bori
  • Unusual lobed shape with a reserved rim
  • Natural blue-black patina

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: a school attribution, not a named maker
  • Copper sekigane in the central opening
  • Light wear from use on the seppa-dai
  • The sub-period within Edo is estimated from style; the paper does not state it

Score breakdown

49.2/100

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 9 of 25 Attributed to a school only
  2. Workmanship 10 of 20 Good 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 7.2 of 10 Rank 64 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest