Kantei

NH-0987 Rank 314

Tsuba · Akasaka

Unsigned iron tsuba of the Akasaka school, pierced with the Musashino motif, with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

TsubaLate Edo (1781–1868)Late Edo period (18th–19th century)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Round (marugata) iron tsuba with a rounded rim (maru-mimi), attributed to the Akasaka school of Edo, in Musashi province. The ji-sukashi openwork depicts the Musashino plain: susuki grass stems arching over the central opening and small circles evoking the moon and dew, a classic theme of the workshop. The iron surface is polished (tetsuji migaki) and the piercing is clean and balanced; the seppa-dai is thin, about 0.6 cm, and the piece measures 7.8 × 7.7 cm and weighs 82 g, according to the original seller. The photographs show a stable black patina, with no active rust and no broken bridges in the openwork. The tsuba is mumei (unsigned); the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper describes it as 武蔵野透鐔 (Musashino-sukashi tsuba), 無銘 (mumei), 赤坂 (Akasaka). It comes in a wooden box without an expert's inscription.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper, visible in the photographs
  • Classic Musashino theme in ji-sukashi openwork
  • Polished iron with a stable black patina
  • Both faces photographed, no breaks in the openwork

Points to bear in mind

  • Unsigned: the paper attributes it to the Akasaka school, not to a specific master
  • The period is inferred from style; the paper gives no date of making
  • The photographs are small and do not show the rim in close-up

Score breakdown

49.5/100

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 7.5 of 10 Rank 57 of 228 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest