Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Polished iron tsuba in a variant mokkō shape, with four inome openings and a dote-mimi rim, signed by Kissōshi and accompanied by NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers.
Tsuba signed on the front 橘窓子 大澤甫矯 (花押) (probable reading: Kissōshi Ōsawa Hajime kaō), on either side of the central opening. The iron plate, with a polished surface (tetsu migaki-ji), takes a variant mokkō form (kawari mokkō-gata) framed by a raised dote-mimi rim; four openings in the inome motif, the heart-shaped “boar's eye”, sit on the diagonals, and the two hitsu-ana complete a restrained, balanced composition. The original seller gives approximate dimensions of 7.9 × 7.6 cm and a thickness of 0.5 cm. The photographs show scattered patches of surface oxidation on both faces, more visible on the reverse and along the rim, with no apparent cracks or breaks. The NBTHK paper, no. 2007372, dated 2 April 2021, recognises it as Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu and records the signature as engraved. Neither the signature nor the paper gives a date; the late Edo attribution rests on style.
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper (no. 2007372, 2021)
- Full signature with kaō, accepted by the paper
- Polished iron in a variant mokkō shape with a dote-mimi rim
- Four inome openings in a symmetrical, restrained design
Points to bear in mind
- Patches of surface oxidation on both faces, more extensive on the reverse
- The period is a stylistic inference: neither the signature nor the paper states it
- The listing does not mention hakogaki; the wooden box seen in one photograph shows no inscription
Score
54.4 / 100
- Maker 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
- Workmanship 10 of 20 Good work
- Condition 9 of 18 Visible wear
- Period 5 of 12 Late Edo (1781–1868)
- Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
- Price 7.4 of 10 Rank 85 of 330 by price among pieces of its type, from the most affordable to the dearest
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.
Details
- Type
- Tsuba
- Maker
- Kissōshi
- Period
- Late Edo (1781–1868)
- Material
- Iron
- Paper
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Signature
- Signed
- Inscription
- 橘窓子 大澤甫矯 (花押) (lectura probable: Kissōshi Ōsawa Hajime kaō)
- Technique
- Sukashi (openwork), Migaki (burnished)
- Dating
- Late Edo period (19th century, by style)
- Paper number
- 2007372
- Paper date
- 2 April 2021
- Attribution on the paper
- 橘窓子 (Kissōshi)