How much?!! Unno Moritoshi and Mito work

[Ford Hallam]

$170 000...that's how much

 

I can't post a larger image but if you follow this link to the Bonhams website you'll find some excellent images that you can zoom in on.

 

 

An important mixed metal box and cover

By Unno Moritoshi (1834-1896)

The rounded rectangular box with a slightly domed cover and decorated in a tour de force of metalwork techniques;

and dated Kinoesaru inuzuki (1884.10) and signed Moritoshi jishiki (Interpreted by Moritoshi)

4 x 4 1/16 x 1 3/16in (10.2 x 10.3 x 3cm)

 

Unno Moritoshi (1834–1896) was a Mito artist and trained under Yoshimori. He was also a tsuba and tosogu-shi. The Boston Museum of fine art hold a large collection of work by him, a number are illustrated in 'Lethal Elegance' by Joe Earl. The items in the MFA collection are known to all be genuine because they were bequeathed to the museum by 2 American collectors, William Sturgis Bigelow and Charles Goddard Weld, who both seemed to have a personal relationship with Moritoshi and other leading Mito artists. Many of the piece were most probably special commissions. In fact the MFA collection is probably the finest, anywhere, of late Edo Mito work.

 

I was fortunate to work on a number of pieces (about a dozen at least) by Moritishi in my previous life as a restorer in London so I am intimately familiar with his work. I bring your attention to his art because it epitomises the finest quality that was being produced at the end of the 19th century in Japan. That astronomical price of $170 000 for that little box is actually fairly typical for works at this level. I think puts the price of the finest kinko tsuba into some sort of perspective and it's only a matter of time before serious art collectors start to take note and the tsuba you think are very expensive will be re-evaluated and their prices begin to climb towards similar stratospheric level.

 

I invite you have a close study of his technique and artistry. Compare those gold menuki with the finest Goto works and consider which strikes you as being the finer work of art.

 

[Ford Hallam]

I can only imagine that the deafening silence this post has provoked is simply stunned awe in the face of such superlative artistry and and craftsmanship

[hxv]

Dear Ford,

 

I can only imagine that the deafening silence this post has provoked is simply stunned awe in the face of such superlative artistry and and craftsmanship

 

Yes, what you said above *AND* the realization of my personal lack of affluence

 

Hoanh

[Soshin]

Hi Ford,

 

I really enjoyed the story associated with the design on the box. Thanks for putting this together it has been a nice read. Do you think Unno Moritoshi tosogu is under priced given his other items such as this box? Are their many of his pieces in private collections? I love MFA collection of tosogu including including works by Unno Moritoshi.

 

P.S. Here is my favorite tsuba: http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/tsuba-with-design-of-enma-o-demon-and-sinner-9966.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Ford Hallam]

Hoanh,

 

you could still win the lottery....and if you do be sure to contact me. I'll steer you right

 

David,

 

intriguing subject that is your favourite. Does this hint at some wicked secret you need to confess and receive absolution for ? Have you been a very naughty boy?.....

 

 

Seriously though, when tsuba by later artist like Moritoshi, and even slightly earlier but previously overlooked artists, do become available they are achieving fairly serious prices now. Estimates of £1200 are easily eclipsed by hammer prices of over £10 000. There's a way to go but with all thing exceptional, rare and finite, the market demand will establish the final price. What I'm saying is that tsuba collectors are presently very complacent. We're artificially conditioned to accept certain pricings because thus far it's quite a closed market. Things will change dramatically quite soon. Of that I'm certain,auction and art history suggests I'm not just speculating wildly here.

[Jiro49]

Normally I keep my mouth shut and just soak in everything I can when it comes to tosogu threads, but I am in love!

 

The muscle and tendon definition on the right leg and left hand, the facial expression on the? Hage-jin (wife isn't around to ask for a nihongo lesson) and the fact that you can see the same on the tsuka!

 

Just awesome!

 

Sorry for the lack of contribution to this one

 

Regards,

[Brian]

I can only imagine that the deafening silence this post has provoked is simply stunned awe in the face of such superlative artistry and and craftsmanship

Well..that was what it was for me. Can only type so many oooh!'s and aaah'!s

Yeah..that is pretty mindblowing. Did anyone catch those sandals that flew off his feet? They look liek they were 3D crafted and then inlayed. They are that good.

 

Brian

[Soshin]

David,

 

intriguing subject that is your favourite. Does this hint at some wicked secret you need to confess and receive absolution for ? Have you been a very naughty boy?.....

 

Hi Ford,

 

Well I do feel guilty about once saying Higo tsuba are a bit over rated as I now have two in my collection that I really like. It is always good to keep learning and growing in this hobby.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[kaigunair]

That's a beaut. I noticed the auction appears to have been held back in 2011? So while the piece is very nice work, that price might have been a one-off. I read a haynes article online where he comments about the rise of a certain group of buyers at auction that were paying outrageous amounts for tosogu pieces and his musing about the motives behind it. Could be someone was looking to convert some funds into items small and easily carried around. I hope it was a well healed museum fund.

 

But at least the price "hit" hasn't happened just yet considering this was two years ago. Good for those new to the area like myself. I'm secretly hoping the money moves towards Chinese and S.E. Asian antiques so I can collect! One alternative way to look at this piece is that compared to a normal tsuba, the surface area is at least equivalent to 6 tsubas (assuming he decorated the inside sides of the box as he did the lid and the bottom plate). That's still about $25k a tsuba/plate though. (I know, this is far from a perfect comparison )

[Ford Hallam]

That astronomical price of $170 000 for that little box is actually fairly typical for works at this level.

If anything pieces have softened since the mid '80's and '90's which was when prices got a bit silly.

 

but then consider that the price range for genuine Kano Katsuo tosogu is around $15 000 to $150 000. Supply and demand sets these prices.

 

There was a company called the Ozeki Co. which, in the Meiji period, commissioned works from many of the very finest artists of the day. Those pieces, and that little box is exactly the type of thing they sold, fetch an absolute premium at auction because without exception they are simply the very finest pieces to come out of Japan at that time.

[runagmc]

David, the tsuba in your link reminds me of this one, which happens to be one of my favorites...