Kantei

NH-0924 Rank 72

Kozuka · Ōtsuki Mitsuhiro

大月光弘 (Ōtsuki Mitsuhiro)

Polished shibuichi kozuka with Jurōjin rendered in katakiribori and kebori, signed Kishōtei Mitsuhiro with kaō, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

KozukaLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (first half of the 19th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Kozuka of the Ōtsuki school, signed on the reverse 其昇亭光弘 (Kishōtei Mitsuhiro) with his kaō. Mitsuhiro, born in 1795 according to the original seller, was the son and successor of the great Ōtsuki Mitsuoki and one of the most gifted artists of the workshop after his father. The front depicts Jurōjin, god of longevity, with his tall brow, long beard and staff, executed solely in single-stroke chiselling (katakiribori) and line engraving (kebori) on a polished shibuichi ground (migaki-ji). The economy of means and the expressive face reflect the relaxed, painterly taste of the school. The photographs show a warm, even grey patina, free of rust or knocks, with fine wear scratches, mainly on the reverse, and sound edges. The original seller gives a length of 97.7 mm and a width of 15 mm, and mentions an uninscribed kiri-wood box. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper no. 229502, dated November 2011, confirms the signature and describes the piece as shibuichi migaki-ji with katakiribori and kebori.

Strong points

  • Signed Kishōtei Mitsuhiro with kaō, confirmed by the paper
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper
  • Son and successor of Ōtsuki Mitsuoki
  • Highly expressive Jurōjin in katakiribori and kebori alone
  • Polished shibuichi ground with a warm, even patina

Points to bear in mind

  • Fine wear scratches on the surface, mainly on the reverse
  • The kiri box carries no expert inscription
  • The maker's birth year and the dimensions are as stated by the original seller

Score breakdown

63/100

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 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 of 10 Rank 24 of 59 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest