Kantei

NH-0953 Rank 71

Tsuba · Akasaka Tadatoki

赤坂忠時 (Akasaka Tadatoki)

Round polished-iron tsuba with two Genji wheel crests, one pierced and one carved in recess, signed by Akasaka Tadatoki (sixth generation according to the paper). NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

TsubaMid-Edo (1688–1781)Mid-Edo period (18th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Round (marugata) iron tsuba, signed on the front 武州住赤坂忠時 (Bushū-jū Akasaka Tadatoki) on either side of the central opening. The NBTHK paper attributes it to the sixth generation of Akasaka Tadatoki, within the Akasaka school, established in Edo in the 17th century and active until the end of the period. The theme is the Genji cart-wheel crest (kage Genji-guruma mon), repeated at two opposite points: one pierced through in silhouette (kage-sukashi), the other recessed in sukishitabori on both faces. The ground is polished iron (tetsu migaki-ji) with a rounded rim (maru-mimi). According to the original seller it measures 7.9 × 7.6 cm, is 0.5 cm thick at the seppa-dai and weighs 169 g. The photographs show an even, stable blackish-brown patina with no active rust, cracks or knocks, and fine surface scratches from use. It comes with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu certificate dated February 2017.

Strong points

  • Legible signature on the front, accepted by the paper
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu certificate
  • Restrained design of two Genji crests, pierced and recessed
  • Polished iron with a stable patina, no active rust

Points to bear in mind

  • The maker's generation is given by the paper; the signature does not state it
  • Fine scratches and surface rubbing visible in the photographs
  • Undated piece: the period is inferred from the generation

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 10 of 20 Good work
  3. Condition 14 of 18 Good condition
  4. Period 7 of 12 Mid-Edo (1688–1781)
  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 9 of 10 Rank 23 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest