Kantei

NH-0804 Rank 209

Kōgai · Kikuchi Tsunekatsu

菊池序克 (Kikuchi Tsunekatsu)

Polished hiirodō wari-kōgai signed by Kikuchi Tsunekatsu with his kaō, showing a hare gazing at the crescent moon among susuki in katakiribori and kebori. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

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

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Split kōgai (wari-kōgai) signed 菊池序克 (Kikuchi Tsunekatsu) with his kaō, founder of the Kikuchi school. According to the original seller, he was born in 1751, trained under Inagawa Naokatsu in the techniques of the Yokoya and Yanagawa schools and worked in Edo, favouring takabori with iroe and line engraving. The photographs show both halves in polished red metal: one bears a crescent moon, susuki grass and a seated hare raising its head towards the moon, all in fine, confident katakiribori and kebori; the other carries the engraved signature. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, issued in 2025, describes the piece as a wari-kōgai with the moon-and-hare theme, in hiirodō with a polished ground and katakiri-kebori, and accepts the signature. The surface keeps a warm polished tone, with fine handling scratches on both halves and a few small verdigris spots near the head; the engraving remains crisp. Overall length stated by the original seller: 21.24 cm; weight 35.9 g.

Strong points

  • Signature of Kikuchi Tsunekatsu with kaō, accepted by the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper
  • Work by the founder of the Kikuchi school
  • Poetic theme of the hare beneath the crescent moon among susuki
  • Clean katakiribori and kebori on polished hiirodō

Points to bear in mind

  • Fine handling scratches on both halves
  • Small verdigris spots near the head
  • The piece is undated: the period is inferred from the maker's biography

Score breakdown

55.8/100

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 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 3.8 of 10 Rank 6 of 9 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest