Kantei

NH-0891 Rank 25

Mitokoromono · Sonobe Yoshihide

園部芳英 (Sonobe Yoshihide)

Three-piece set (kozuka, kōgai and menuki) with a pine and goat theme by Sonobe Yoshihide, designated Jūyō Tōsōgu by the NBTHK in 2003.

Mitokoromono (menuki, kozuka and kōgai)Late Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (first half of the 19th century)NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Mitokoromono on the theme 松に山羊図 (matsu ni yagi zu, "pine and goat"). The kozuka and kōgai are signed on the reverse 園部芳英 (Sonobe Yoshihide) with a kaō; the menuki are unsigned and the paper attributes them to the same maker. Sonobe Yoshihide, known as Gorō and later Denzō, died in Genji 1 (1864) aged 59 and worked in the Sonobe school tradition descending from Tanaka Yoshiaki. According to the paper and the photographs, the kozuka and kōgai are shakudō with a nanako ground, the goat in gold kinmon and the pine in takabori with gold and silver iroe; the reverse is ura-hanakin, a gold plate with diagonal line work. The menuki are solid gold, carved in katachibori with shakudō additions. The photographs show all three pieces in very good condition: crisp nanako and intact gold, with no visible knocks. The NBTHK designated the set 重要刀装具 (Jūyō Tōsōgu) at its 49th session on 9 October 2003, and its explanation praises the refinement and elegance of the work.

Strong points

  • Jūyō Tōsōgu designation (NBTHK, 49th session, 2003)
  • Kozuka and kōgai signed by Sonobe Yoshihide with kaō
  • Complete, coherent set attributed by the paper to a single maker
  • Shakudō nanako with takabori and gold and silver iroe; solid gold menuki

Points to bear in mind

  • The menuki are unsigned: their authorship is an attribution by the paper
  • Photographs of moderate resolution
  • The presentation box carries no expert inscription

Score breakdown

68.8/100

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 15 of 20 Notable work
  3. Condition 18 of 18 Excellent condition
  4. Period 5 of 12 Late Edo (1781–1868)
  5. Paper 8 of 10 NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu
  6. Extras 3 of 5 Adds: complete set by the same maker
  7. Price 0.8 of 10 Rank 13 of 14 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest