Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Shakudō nanako kozuka with sparrows on snow-laden bamboo in takabori with gold and silver iroe, attributed to Gotō Sokujō, eighth master of the main Gotō line.
Kozuka of the main Gotō line, attributed to Sokujō, the eighth master of the house. The gold back bears the engraved kiwame 紋即乗 光美（花押） (probable reading: mon Sokujō Mitsuyoshi, kaō), an attribution made by a later Gotō master rather than the maker's own signature. According to the original seller, Sokujō was the second son of Eijō, was born in 1600 and died young, so his works are very rare. The subject, yukimochi-take ni suzume, shows sparrows perched on bamboo canes bending under snow, with a third sparrow in flight. The photographs show a shakudō ground with very fine, even nanako, figures in takabori with gold leaves and cane, the snow in a silvery tone and finely engraved plumage; the frame and back are gold (kin-bukumi). It measures 96 × 14.2 mm. The photographs show no visible wear, knocks or loss of gold. It comes in a paulownia box with a silk cushion, without inscription. The original seller declares an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper, which does not appear in the photographs.
Strong points
- Attributed to Gotō Sokujō, of the main Gotō line
- Shakudō with very fine, even nanako
- Takabori with gold and silver iroe: sparrows on snowy bamboo
- Gold frame and back (kin-bukumi)
- No visible wear in the photographs
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper declared by the original seller
Points to bear in mind
- The inscription on the back is a kiwame by a later Gotō master, not Sokujō's signature
- The declared paper does not appear in the photographs
- The period is inferred from the attribution; the piece is not dated
Score
64.5 / 100
- Maker 15 of 25 Unsigned, attributed by the paper to a master
- Workmanship 15 of 20 Notable work
- Condition 18 of 18 Excellent condition
- Period 9 of 12 Early Edo (1615–1688)
- Paper 4 of 10 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Extras 0 of 5 No complete set by the same maker and no inscribed box
- Price 3.5 of 10 Rank 70 of 107 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
- Kozuka
- Maker
- Gotō Sokujō
- Period
- Early Edo (1615–1688)
- Material
- Shakudō, Gold, Silver
- Paper
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu
- Signature
- Attributed (den)
- School
- Gotō
- Inscription
- 紋即乗 光美（花押） (lectura probable: mon Sokujō Mitsuyoshi, kaō)
- Technique
- Nanako (fish-roe ground), Takabori (high relief), Iroe (coloured inlay), Kebori (line engraving)
- Dating
- Early Edo period (17th century)