Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Kozuka signed by Gakukawa Yasunori, with a single arrow in gold and shakudō relief on a ribbed, granulated copper ground; the original seller declares Tokubetsu Hozon papers.
Kozuka on the theme of the arrow, signed on the reverse 額川保則 (Gakukawa Yasunori) followed by his kaō (花押), a signature the photographs show clearly. The front is a copper plate with a surface ribbed in horizontal bands and a fine, warm granulated texture. Across it runs a single arrow in relief: a shaft of applied gold, collars and fletching in shakudō with the feathers engraved in line (kebori) and, at the bottom, the arrowhead in a silvery grey metal, set in an oval pierced window that passes through the plate and cut with a cherry blossom. The reverse is a plain dark plate with a scalloped edge. The composition is restrained and very precisely executed. The photographs show good condition: even patina, intact gold and only slight rubbing on the highest grains, with no knocks or rust. The original seller declares NBTHK 特別保存刀装具 (tokubetsu hozon tōsōgu) papers in the maker's name, which do not appear in the photographs.
Strong points
- Legible signature 額川保則 (Gakukawa Yasunori) with kaō
- Arrow in relief with gold shaft and engraved shakudō fletching
- Arrowhead pierced with a cherry blossom, set in a window through the plate
- Ribbed, granulated copper ground with warm patina
- Tokubetsu Hozon papers declared by the original seller
Points to bear in mind
- The papers do not appear in the photographs
- Period estimated from style and listing; the piece is not dated
- Slight rubbing on the highest grains of the copper
Score
58.6 / 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 5 of 12 Late Edo (1781–1868)
- Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
- Price 1.6 of 10 Rank 90 of 107 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
- Kozuka
- Maker
- Gakukawa Yasunori
- Period
- Late Edo (1781–1868)
- Material
- Copper, Gold, Shakudō
- Paper
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Signature
- Signed
- Inscription
- 額川保則 花押 (Gakukawa Yasunori kaō)
- Technique
- Takabori (high relief), Zōgan (inlay), Sukashi (openwork), Kebori (line engraving), Other technique
- Dating
- Late Edo period (19th century)