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Photographs by the seller at origin.

The piece

Round pierced iron tsuba with two noshi tied with gold bands, signed by Tomotsune of the Chōshū school, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu papers.

Round iron tsuba of the Chōshū school, signed 長門萩住中井友恒作 (Nagato Hagi-jū Nakai Tomotsune saku) on either side of the central opening. It depicts two noshi, the ceremonial ribbons that accompany gifts, sweeping left and right along the rim; their grooves are carved in relief against a pierced ground and each ribbon is tied with an inlaid gold band. The paper titles it 左右熨斗透鐔 (sayū noshi sukashi tsuba) and describes it as round, iron, carved in relief with pierced ground, with gold nunome inlay and two hitsu-ana, and a squared, slightly rounded rim. According to the original seller it measures 8.32 × 8.30 cm, 0.40 cm thick at the centre, weighs 103 g and comes in a kiri wood box. The photographs show a dark, even iron surface with no active rust or visible knocks, the gold bindings intact, and metal fillers (sekigane) in the central opening. It holds NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu certificate no. 222253, dated April 1995, which accepts the signature.

Strong points

  • Tomotsune signature accepted by the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper
  • Dynamic composition of two noshi in relief with pierced ground
  • Gold nunome inlaid bindings
  • Leading exponent of the Chōshū school of Hagi
  • Good condition, no visible active rust

Points to bear in mind

  • Metal fillers (sekigane) in the central opening
  • The piece is undated; the period is inferred from style
  • The listing does not mention a hakogaki

Score

66.7 / 100

  1. Maker 19 of 25 Genuine signature of a known maker or school
  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 9.7 of 10 Rank 10 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.

Type
Tsuba
Maker
Tomotsune
Period
Late Edo (1781–1868)
Material
Iron, Gold
Paper
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
Signature
Signed
School
Chōshū
Inscription
長門萩住中井友恒作 (Nagato Hagi-jū Nakai Tomotsune saku)
Technique
Sukashi (openwork), Takabori (high relief), Nunome (damascening), Zōgan (inlay), Kebori (line engraving)
Dating
Late Edo period (18th–19th century)
Paper number
222253
Paper date
20 April 1995
Attribution on the paper
長門萩住中井友恒作 (Nagato Hagi-jū Nakai Tomotsune saku)

€1,530Shipping and taxes included

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