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The piece

Shakudō mitokoromono with the flower-cart (hanaguruma) motif: kozuka and kōgai signed by Tamagawa Yoshihisa of Mito, with an unsigned pair of menuki.

A three-piece set (mitokoromono) comprising kozuka, kōgai and a pair of menuki, all sharing one theme: a flower cart (hanaguruma) laden with cherry blossoms, with a gilt wheel and golden pulling cords. The kozuka and kōgai are of shakudō with a very even nanako ground, the motif worked in takabori with gold and silver iroe; the menuki, also of shakudō, are carved in the round in the same colours. The back plate of the kozuka bears the signature 水府住玉川美久 (Suifu-jū Tamagawa Yoshihisa) with kaō, and the kōgai carries the same inscription on its reverse; according to the original seller, the menuki are mumei and attributed to the same maker. Tamagawa Yoshihisa, second generation of the Tamagawa school of Mito in Hitachi province, was born in 1779 according to the original seller. The photographs show a deep black shakudō patina and crisp nanako on the kozuka and kōgai; on one menuki the gilding of the wheel is slightly worn on the high points, and the backs of the menuki retain traces of old material. The original seller declares an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, which does not appear in the photographs, and a paulownia box.

Strong points

  • Complete three-piece set on a single theme
  • Kozuka and kōgai signed 水府住玉川美久 (Suifu-jū Tamagawa Yoshihisa) with kaō
  • Fine, even nanako ground in shakudō
  • Takabori with gold and silver iroe
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper declared by the original seller

Points to bear in mind

  • The menuki are unsigned; their attribution comes from the original seller
  • The paper does not appear in the photographs
  • Slight wear to the gilding on one menuki and traces of old material on their backs

Score

58.5 / 100

  1. Maker 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
  2. Workmanship 10 of 20 Good work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 5 of 12 Late Edo (1781–1868)
  5. Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
  6. Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
  7. Price 6.5 of 10 Rank 7 of 18 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
Mitokoromono (menuki, kozuka and kōgai)
Maker
Tamagawa Yoshihisa
Period
Late Edo (1781–1868)
Material
Shakudō, Gold, Silver
Paper
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
Signature
Signed
School
Tamagawa (Mito)
Inscription
水府住玉川美久(花押) (Suifu-jū Tamagawa Yoshihisa, kaō)
Technique
Nanako (fish-roe ground), Takabori (high relief), Iroe (coloured inlay), Other technique
Dating
Late Edo period (first half of the 19th century)

€6,890Shipping and taxes included

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