Lot Essay
This Masanaga belongs to the Ito family of Edo. There were several generations of artists who used this name and it is probable that this tsuba was made by one of the last, circa 1800.
Details
A BUSHU ITO SCHOOL TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1800), SIGNED BUSHU JU MASANAGA
The oval iron plate is pierced with a design of flowering cherry, carved almost in the round, and two panels at the top and the bottom. A shakudo flying crane is inlaid on the face of the upper panel, and cherry blossoms in water on the lower panel. The reverse has a stylized wave design. The anther of the cherry blossom and the specks of spray are inlaid in gold highlights--height 7.7cm., width 7.1cm., thickness 5.5mm.
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1800), SIGNED BUSHU JU MASANAGA
The oval iron plate is pierced with a design of flowering cherry, carved almost in the round, and two panels at the top and the bottom. A shakudo flying crane is inlaid on the face of the upper panel, and cherry blossoms in water on the lower panel. The reverse has a stylized wave design. The anther of the cherry blossom and the specks of spray are inlaid in gold highlights--height 7.7cm., width 7.1cm., thickness 5.5mm.