Kantei

NH-0939 Rank 343

Tsuba · Kamiyoshi

Iron tate-marugata tsuba pierced with cherry blossoms amid mist (kasumi-zakura), unsigned and attributed by its NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper to the Kamiyoshi family of Higo.

TsubaLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (19th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Unsigned (mumei) tsuba attributed by the NBTHK paper to Kamiyoshi, the Higo family of tsubakō known for finely drawn iron openwork. The paper describes it as 霞桜透鐔 (kasumi-zakura sukashi tsuba): cherry blossoms among bands of mist, pierced in a polished iron plate (tetsu migaki-ji) of tate-marugata shape, worked in sukishitabori, ji-sukashi and kebori, with a dote-mimi rim reserved in the metal itself (sukinokoshi). According to the original seller it measures 7.43 × 7.04 cm, with a rim thickness of 0.41 cm and a weight of 114 g. The photographs show both faces and the edge: a dark, even iron patina, no visible active red rust, and some reddish traces beside the central opening. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, no. 2007127, dated 15 January 2021. The original seller states that it comes in a paulownia (kiri) box.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2021) attributing it to Kamiyoshi
  • Openwork cherry blossoms and mist with kebori detail on polished iron
  • Dote-mimi rim reserved in the metal itself
  • Kiri box, according to the original seller

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: the paper attributes it to the Kamiyoshi family, not to a specific master
  • Low-resolution photographs: fine condition details cannot be fully judged
  • The period is inferred from the school; the paper does not date the piece

Score breakdown

47.7/100

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 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
  7. Price 5.7 of 10 Rank 99 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest