Kantei

NH-0893 Rank 47

Koshirae · Higo

Higo-style itomaki tachi-koshirae of the late Edo period, with a gold nashiji saya and shakudō fittings bearing the kuyō crest; designated Jūyō Tōsōgu by the NBTHK at its 46th session.

Koshirae without bladeLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (18th–19th century)NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

A complete itomaki tachi-koshirae, offered without a blade and designated as a Higo-style work. The metal fittings (fuchi, kabutogane, sarute, kuchigane, ishizuki, semegane, kashiwaba, naga-fukurin and kōragane) are of shakudō decorated with the kuyō crest and karakusa scrolls in the kusarakashi technique, finished with fine gold rims; all pieces are mumei. The tsuka is covered in white same and bound in black silk in the hishimaki manner, and the menuki are three pairs of gold kuyō crests carved in the round. The tsuba, of aoi-mokkō shape, is lacquered black with a gold fukurin and a shakudō lining to the central opening; it is accompanied by two shakudō ō-seppa with the kuyō crest, a gold iroe cross and inome openings, and six smaller gilt-copper seppa. The gold nashiji saya carries gold maki-e crests of cherry blossom, paulownia wheel and stylised paulownia; the watarimaki section is wrapped in blue-dyed leather with a reserved pattern of small cherry blossoms. The photographs show glossy lacquer and intact metalwork, with no visible knocks or losses. The NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu designation paper (46th session, 5 October 2000) dates it to the late Edo period and describes it as a faithful expression of the restrained Higo koshirae taste, tied to the tea aesthetics of the Hosokawa school. The original seller states that it comes from the Hosokawa family.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu designation (46th session, 2000), with the paper photographed
  • Complete and coherent mounting, all shakudō fittings decorated with the kuyō crest in kusarakashi
  • Gold nashiji saya with gold maki-e crests and naga-fukurin
  • Black-lacquered aoi-mokkō tsuba with gold fukurin and pierced ō-seppa with a gold cross
  • Hosokawa family provenance stated by the original seller

Points to bear in mind

  • All pieces are mumei: the attribution is to the Higo school, not to a named maker
  • The Hosokawa provenance is stated by the original seller; the paper does not mention it
  • Offered without a blade
  • Lacquer and silk bindings need stable humidity and light conditions

Score breakdown

65/100

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 9 of 25 Attributed to a school only
  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 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
  7. Price 10 of 10 Rank 1 of 1 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest