Kantei

NH-0775 Rank 312

Mitokoromono · Kaga kinkō

A three-piece set (kozuka, kōgai and a pair of menuki) depicting saddled horses in shakudō nanako and gold, attributed by its NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper to the Kaga metalworkers.

Mitokoromono (menuki, kozuka and kōgai)Late Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (late 18th – 19th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

A complete mitokoromono comprising a kozuka, a kōgai and a pair of menuki, on the theme of saddled horses. The NBTHK paper describes it as 鞍置馬図三所物 (kuraoki-uma-zu mitokoromono), unsigned, and attributes it to the school of the Kaga metalworkers, 加賀金工 (Kaga kinkō); the original seller presents it as Kaga Gotō. The kozuka and kōgai carry shakudō plaques with fine, even nanako, across which saddled and harnessed horses gallop in gilt high relief; the frames, backs and the body of the kōgai are gilt with a brushed finish. The menuki are solid gold, carved in the round, with finely detailed manes, saddles and trappings. The photographs show a set in good condition: intact nanako, crisp relief and well-preserved gilding, with light handling marks on the gilt backs. It comes with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper no. 2009700, dated July 2023, and an uninscribed paulownia box.

Strong points

  • Complete three-piece set on a single theme: saddled horses
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2023)
  • Solid gold menuki carved in the round
  • Kozuka and kōgai in shakudō with fine nanako and gilt relief
  • Good state of preservation

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: the paper attributes it to the Kaga school, not to a named maker
  • Period inferred from style; the paper does not state it
  • Light rubbing on the brushed gilding of the backs

Score breakdown

49.7/100

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 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 7.7 of 10 Rank 4 of 14 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest