Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Shibuichi fuchi-kashira depicting Kanzan and Jittoku: the kashira is inscribed to Yokoya Sōmin, and the fuchi was later carved by Rinsendō Mitsumasa to complete it.
Fuchi-kashira on the theme of Kanzan Jittoku (寒山拾得), the two eccentric monks of the Zen tradition. It is a two-hand work: according to the signature engraved on the copper tenjōgane of the fuchi, the kashira is by Yokoya Sōmin, creator of the Edo katakiribori style, and the fuchi was carved later, to complete the pair, by Rinsendō Mitsumasa, a pupil of Yokoya Sōyo. The inscription reads 頭横谷宗珉作 (Kashira Yokoya Sōmin saku) and 彫継臨川堂充昌 (horitsugi Rinsendō Mitsumasa), with a kaō. On the kashira, Kanzan unrolls a scroll, rendered in confident katakiribori and fine kebori; on the fuchi, Jittoku looks up before a crumbling earthen wall, his hair in kebori and the ground covered with dense, irregular chisel marks. Both pieces are of dark-patinated shibuichi, and the kashira has gold shitodome. The photographs show an even patina with no visible knocks or noticeable wear. Stated dimensions: kashira 34.8 mm, fuchi 37.8 mm. The original seller states an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper and a fitted kiri box; the paper does not appear in the photographs.
Strong points
- Two-hand work: kashira inscribed to Yokoya Sōmin, fuchi by Rinsendō Mitsumasa
- Katakiribori and kebori in the Yokoya tradition
- Signature with kaō on the tenjōgane of the fuchi
- Dark-patinated shibuichi with gold shitodome
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper stated by the original seller
Points to bear in mind
- Sōmin's authorship of the kashira rests on Mitsumasa's inscription; the paper does not appear in the photographs.
- The two pieces are by makers of different generations, not by a single hand.
Score
63.8 / 100
- Maker 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
- Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable work
- Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
- Period 7 of 12 Mid-Edo (1688–1781)
- Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
- Price 4.8 of 10 Rank 24 of 45 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
- Fuchi-kashira
- Maker
- Yokoya Sōmin / Rinsendō Mitsumasa
- Period
- Mid-Edo (1688–1781)
- Material
- Shibuichi, Gold, Copper
- Paper
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Signature
- Signed
- School
- 横谷派 (Yokoya-ha)
- Inscription
- 頭横谷宗珉作 (Kashira Yokoya Sōmin saku) 彫継臨川堂充昌 (horitsugi Rinsendō Mitsumasa) 花押 (kaō)
- Technique
- Katakiribori (bevelled chisel engraving), Kebori (line engraving), Other technique
- Dating
- Mid-Edo period (18th century)