Kantei

NH-0933 Rank 54

Kozuka · Gotō Jōshin

後藤乗真 (Gotō Jōshin)

Shakudō nanako kozuka with carts among waves and a praying mantis in takabori and gold uttori-iroe, attributed to Gotō Jōshin and designated Jūyō Kodōgu by the NBTHK.

KozukaMuromachi or earlier (before 1573)Late Muromachi period (16th century)NBTHK Jūyō Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Kozuka attributed to Gotō Jōshin, third master of the Gotō main line, active in the late Muromachi period. The reverse bears an engraved attribution inscription (kiwame) by Gotō Jujō, twelfth master of the family, assigning the design to Jōshin, together with his kaō. The front depicts carts (ryūsha) among the waves and a praying mantis, a theme recalling the old image of the mantis standing up to a cart. The carving is in takabori on a very fine shakudō nanako ground, with minutely chiselled waves and the figures in gold uttori-iroe; the reverse is a gold plate with a brushed finish. The photographs show shakudō with a deep black patina and intact gold, with only small marks on the frame. The piece was designated Jūyō Kodōgu at the 21st NBTHK session on 1 March 1973; the paper's text regards it as a typical example of Jōshin, relatively large, with high relief and fine uttori-iroe, and notes that it was probably adapted from a kōgai. Dimensions according to the paper: 9.75 cm long and 1.45 cm wide. The original seller states that it comes with a paulownia box and an outer box.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Jūyō Kodōgu designation (21st session, 1973)
  • Attributed to Gotō Jōshin, master of the Gotō main line
  • Attribution inscription by Gotō Jujō with his kaō
  • Takabori with gold uttori-iroe on very fine shakudō nanako
  • Deep black patina and well-preserved gold

Points to bear in mind

  • Not signed by Jōshin: the attribution rests on Gotō Jujō's inscription, accepted by the paper
  • According to the paper, probably a kōgai adapted into a kozuka
  • Small dark marks on the gold frame near one end

Score breakdown

64.3/100

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 15 of 25 Unsigned, attributed by the paper to a master
  2. Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 12 of 12 Muromachi or earlier (before 1573)
  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 0.3 of 10 Rank 57 of 59 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest