Kantei

NH-0708 Rank 273

Tsuba · Kyō-kinkō

Unsigned shakudō tsuba of mokkō shape with carved waves and gold cherry blossoms, attributed to the Kyō-kinkō school by an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

TsubaMid-Edo (1688–1781)Mid-Edo period (18th century), by styleNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Unsigned tsuba attributed to the Kyō-kinkō, the Kyoto metalworkers who specialised in soft metals. The theme is nami-sakura (waves and cherry blossoms): the whole surface is covered by restless water, carved in sukidashibori and finely lined with kebori, on which cherry blossoms float; some in gold iroe and others in the shakudō itself, which gives the composition depth. The shape is mokkō, with a rounded fukurin rim, and the reverse repeats the theme in the same arrangement. According to the original seller it measures 6.82 × 6.42 cm, 0.56 cm thick, and weighs 122 g. The photographs show an even black shakudō patina, the gold intact and the rim free of knocks; the seppa-dai on both faces shows the rubbing that comes with mounting, with small copper-coloured spots beside the central opening. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, no. 2009266, dated April 2023, describes it as mumei and attributes it to Kyō-kinkō. It comes in an uninscribed kiri wood box.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2023)
  • Nami-sakura theme: waves and cherry blossoms on both faces
  • Shakudō with gold iroe and fukurin rim
  • Fine carving of the water in sukidashibori and kebori
  • Gold of the blossoms intact

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: attributed to a school, not to an individual maker
  • Wear from use on the seppa-dai, with small copper spots beside the central opening
  • Neither the paper nor the piece gives a date: the period is estimated from style

Score breakdown

51.8/100

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 7 of 12 Mid-Edo (1688–1781)
  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 7.8 of 10 Rank 52 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest