Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Shibuichi kozuka and wari-kōgai with autumn grasses in katakiribori, both signed by Washida Mitsuchika, a Shōnai artist of the late Edo period.
Futatokoro consisting of a kozuka and a wari-kōgai by Washida Mitsuchika, an artist of the Shōnai domain (Dewa province) and son of Washida Mitsutoki. Both pieces bear the same signature on the reverse, 悠然居光親 (Yūzenkyo Mitsuchika), followed by a kaō, as the photographs show. The subject is a field of autumn grasses and flowers (akikusa), rendered in loose, almost painterly katakiribori and kebori on a silvery-grey shibuichi (oboro-gin) ground finished in fine ishime. The head of the kōgai has an added silver section engraved with clouds; the reverse of both pieces is covered with fine lines suggesting grain or mist. The photographs show good condition: crisp engraving, even patina, no knocks or rust, with a small dark mark at the silver joint of the kōgai. The set comes in a paulownia wood box. The original seller declares an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper, which does not appear in the photographs.
Strong points
- Two-piece set signed by the same maker
- Fluid katakiribori of autumn grasses
- Shibuichi (oboro-gin) with fine ishime ground
- Added silver section at the head of the kōgai
- Tokubetsu Hozon paper declared by the original seller
Points to bear in mind
- The declared paper does not appear in the photographs
- Small dark mark at the silver joint of the kōgai
Score
65 / 100
- Maker 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
- Workmanship 10 of 20 Good work
- Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
- Period 5 of 12 Late Edo (1781–1868)
- Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Extras 3 of 5 Adds: complete set by the same maker
- Price 10 of 10 Rank 1 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.
Details
- Type
- Futatokoro (kozuka and kōgai)
- Maker
- Washida Mitsuchika
- Period
- Late Edo (1781–1868)
- Material
- Shibuichi, Silver
- Paper
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Signature
- Signed
- School
- Shōnai
- Inscription
- 悠然居光親 花押 (Yūzenkyo Mitsuchika kaō)
- Technique
- Katakiribori (bevelled chisel engraving), Kebori (line engraving), Other technique
- Dating
- Late Edo period (mid-19th century)
- Extras
- complete set by the same maker