Kantei
‹ Koshirae

Photographs by the seller at origin.

The piece

Gotō school kozuka and kōgai set depicting Kōsekikō and Chōryō, in shakudō nanako with high relief and gold iroe; NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

A futatokoro comprising a kozuka and a kōgai of the Gotō school. The kozuka is signed 紋徳乗 光孝 (Montokujō Mitsutaka) with kaō, and the kōgai 後藤伝乗 (Gotō Denjō) with kaō; both signatures are legible in the photographs of the gilt reverses and are recorded verbatim on the paper. The subject, titled on the paper 黄石公張良図 (Kōsekikō Chōryō-zu), is the Chinese tale of Huang Shigong and Zhang Liang: Chōryō retrieves the old man's shoe riding a dragon through the waves, while Kōsekikō waits on horseback. The carving is in takabori on a shakudō ground with very even nanako, with gold iroe details and finely chiselled waves; the reverses are gilt with a file finish. The photographs show a deep, even patina, the gilding on the high points preserved, and only light rubbing on the reverses. Accompanied by NBTHK paper 特別保存刀装具 (tokubetsu hozon tōsōgu) no. 2008035, dated December 2021. The original seller states that it is kept in a kiri box.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper recording both signatures
  • Signed kozuka and kōgai, Gotō school
  • Narrative scene of Kōsekikō and Chōryō with dragons among waves
  • Very fine shakudō nanako with takabori and gold iroe

Points to bear in mind

  • The two pieces bear different signatures and are not by the same maker
  • The pieces are undated; late Edo is inferred from style
  • The declared kiri box does not appear in the photographs

Score

64.5 / 100

  1. Maker 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
  2. Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable 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 7.5 of 10 Rank 6 of 21 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest

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.

Type
Futatokoro (kozuka and kōgai)
Maker
Gotō Denjō / Montokujō Mitsutaka
Period
Late Edo (1781–1868)
Material
Shakudō, Gold
Paper
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
Signature
Signed
School
Gotō
Inscription
紋徳乗 光孝 花押 (Montokujō Mitsutaka kaō) / 後藤伝乗 花押 (Gotō Denjō kaō)
Technique
Nanako (fish-roe ground), Takabori (high relief), Iroe (coloured inlay)
Dating
Late Edo period (18th-19th century)
Paper number
2008035
Paper date
24 December 2021
Attribution on the paper
小柄 銘 紋徳乗 光孝 花押 (kozuka mei Montokujō Mitsutaka kaō) / 笄 銘 後藤伝乗 花押 (kōgai mei Gotō Denjō kaō)

€4,110Shipping and taxes included

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