A CHOSHU TSUBA

Details
A CHOSHU TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1800), SIGNED NAGATO HAGI TA YUKIMITSU SAKU

The oval iron plate is carved in high relief with a design of Chinese lions (shishi) on rocks. The reverse is decorated in relief with rocks and plants. The shishi are carved from the plate in sunken relief and the head is inlaid and carved above the plate surface. There is a carved aperture in the rocks which represents a cave opening--height 7.1cm., width 7.3cm., thickness 5.5mm.

Lot Essay

Yukimitsu was originally from the Nakabara family. He joined the Tamura family, abbreviated to Ta in the signature of this example. He was a student of Ayabe Masayuki and he occasionally employs the name Koshi (Yukikore). His work is very rare.