Kantei

NH-0802 Rank 159

Tsuba · Harutada

春忠 (Harutada)

Iron tsuba signed by Harutada of Aizu, showing the immortals Gama and Tekkai in relief with copper, silver and gold inlays, with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

TsubaLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (18th–19th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Iron tsuba signed on the reverse 會陽住 春忠作 (Kaiyō-jū Harutada saku), "made by Harutada, living in Kaiyō", the literary name of Aizu. According to the paper, the subject is Gama Tekkai sennin-zu: the Taoist immortals Gama Sennin and Tekkai Sennin, with faces in copper and in a silvery metal, gold eyes, a gilt staff and robes enlivened with gold patterns. On the reverse, a waterfall in silvery metal between gilt rocks and a few bamboo leaves. The paper describes the piece as nadekaku-gata (撫角形), tetsuji (鉄地), sukidashibori (鋤出彫), zōgan iroe (象嵌色絵) and uchikaeshi-mimi (打返耳). The photographs show iron with a granular surface and a stable dark patina, gilding somewhat worn on the high points, and copper fillers (sekigane) in the central opening. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper no. 2010413, dated 19 December 2023, which accepts the signature. Dimensions according to the original seller: 8.2 × 7.8 cm, 0.5 cm thick, 140 g.

Strong points

  • Legible signature of Harutada, accepted by the paper
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2023)
  • Expressive faces of the two immortals in copper and silvery metal
  • Reverse decorated with a waterfall, gilt rocks and bamboo
  • Sturdy uchikaeshi-mimi rim with no visible damage

Points to bear in mind

  • Gilding somewhat worn on the highest reliefs
  • Copper sekigane in the central opening
  • The period is inferred from style; the paper does not state it

Score breakdown

58.5/100

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 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
  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 6.5 of 10 Rank 81 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest