Kantei

NH-0773 Rank 10

Fuchi-kashira · Iwamoto Konkan

岩本昆寛 (Iwamoto Konkan)

Fuchi-kashira with orchids in shakudō and gold on a shibuichi nanako ground, signed by Iwamoto Konkan with kaō and designated Jūyō Tōsōgu at the 54th NBTHK session.

Fuchi-kashiraLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (late 18th century)NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Fuchi-kashira signed 岩本昆寛 (Iwamoto Konkan) with his kaō, chiselled on the copper tenjōgane of the fuchi. Iwamoto Konkan, born in Edo in 1744, was the sixth head of the Iwamoto house, a line rooted in the Yokoya school, and he studied Nara-school carving to arrive at a highly refined style of his own. The subject is orchids among tall grasses: leaves and stems in inlaid shakudō relief, blossoms and seed heads in gold, set on a fine and even shibuichi nanako ground. On the kashira the design fills the oval diagonally; on the fuchi the orchids spread across the front and leave the back plain. The photographs show the pair in good condition, with crisp nanako and intact gilding, and only a few lighter patches on the kashira. The piece was designated Jūyō Tōsōgu by the NBTHK at the 54th session (10 October 2008); the certificate and the session zufu accept the signature and describe the work as showing the maker's full talent. It comes in a paulownia box.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu designation (54th session, 2008)
  • Genuine signature of Iwamoto Konkan with kaō, accepted by the paper
  • Orchids in shakudō and gold on a very even shibuichi nanako ground
  • Composition praised in the session zufu
  • Nanako and gilding in good condition according to the photographs

Points to bear in mind

  • The photographs are of limited resolution and do not allow close judgement of the surface
  • A few lighter patches are visible on the kashira's nanako
  • The paulownia box carries no declared expert inscription

Score breakdown

72/100

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 25 of 25 Genuine signature of a first-rank master, confirmed by the paper
  2. Workmanship 20 of 20 Exceptional work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 5 of 12 Late Edo (1781–1868)
  5. Paper 8 of 10 NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu
  6. Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
  7. Price 0 of 10 Rank 27 of 27 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest