Kantei

NH-0938 Rank 260

Tsuba · Owari

Unsigned round iron tsuba pierced with dharma wheels (rinbō) and clouds, attributed to the Owari school by an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

TsubaLate Edo (1781–1868)Edo periodNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

A mumei iron tsuba of round shape (竪丸形, tate-marugata) with a rounded rim (丸耳, maru-mimi), pierced in positive silhouette with two dharma wheels (rinbō) and stylised clouds arranged around the central opening. The paper describes it as 輪宝雲文透鐔 (rinbō unmon sukashi tsuba), worked in 肉彫地透 (nikubori jisukashi): the motifs are modelled in relief within the openwork. The composition is symmetrical and sturdy, with the granular iron surface typical of provincial pierced tsuba. According to the original seller it measures 7.6 × 7.5 cm, with a rim thickness of 0.5 cm and a weight of 85 g. The photographs show a dark, stable patina with no active rust or visible cracks, and remains of copper sekigane in the central opening. The NBTHK awarded it Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (特別保存刀装具, tokubetsu hozon tōsōgu) no. 2009997, dated 10 October 2023, attributing it to the 尾張 (Owari) school. It comes with a kiri box inscribed on the lid and inside.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2023), attributed to the Owari school
  • Openwork of dharma wheels and clouds, modelled in nikubori
  • Iron with a dark, stable patina
  • Inscribed kiri box

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: a school attribution, not a named maker
  • The paper does not specify the sub-period within Edo
  • Low-resolution photographs; the iron surface deserves a closer look
  • Copper sekigane in the central opening

Score breakdown

52.2/100

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 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 2 of 5 Adds: box inscribed by an expert (hakogaki)
  7. Price 8.2 of 10 Rank 41 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest