Kantei

NH-0949 Rank 46

Kozuka · Gotō Keijō (Mitsumori)

後藤光守 (Gotō Mitsumori)

Main-line Gotō kozuka: a peach-branch mon attributed to Gotō Sōjō, mounted and signed by Gotō Keijō (Mitsumori), with Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

KozukaLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (late 18th century); mon of the Muromachi periodNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

A kōgai-naoshi kozuka: the decorated plate comes from a kōgai and was later mounted as a kozuka. It depicts a peach branch laden with fruit, carved in shakudō takabori; the fruits are rendered in gold-foil iroe (kin fukurokise) and small gold studs complete the design, all on a very fine, even nanako ground. The ura bears an engraved inscription, "mon Sōjō, Mitsumori" with kaō: the appraisal of Gotō Keijō (Mitsumori), 14th head of the main Gotō line, who attributes the mon to Gotō Sōjō, second generation of the family and one of the three Ko-Gotō masters, and signs the mounting. According to the original seller, Keijō lived from 1751 to 1804 and few of his works survive. The photographs show the gold intact, the nanako crisp and no corrosion; the high points of the leaves show handling polish and the ura some fine surface marks. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, dated 7 December 2017, records the inscription and technique. It comes in an uninscribed wooden box.

Strong points

  • Main Gotō line: mon attributed to Gotō Sōjō, second generation
  • Inscription and kaō of Gotō Keijō (Mitsumori), accepted by the paper
  • Peach branch in shakudō takabori with gold-foil fruits
  • Fine, even nanako ground
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (2017)

Points to bear in mind

  • A kōgai-naoshi: the plate comes from a kōgai converted into a kozuka
  • The attribution of the mon to Sōjō rests on Keijō's appraisal, not on a signature by Sōjō
  • Handling polish on the high points and fine marks on the ura

Score breakdown

65.1/100

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 25 of 25 Genuine signature of a first-rank master, confirmed by the paper
  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 2.1 of 10 Rank 47 of 59 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest