A SHONAI SCHOOL TSUBA

Details

A SHONAI SCHOOL TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1850), SIGNED KOKANTETSU KYUKODO MITSUTOKI TSUKURU (WASHIDA MITSUTOKI II [1796-1862])

The oval iron plate with a well hammered raised rim is pierced with a design of a crane flying over waves and with two small apertures in the lower portion of the plate for the attachment of a handcord (udenuki-ana)--height 7.1cm., width 6.8cm., thickness at center 4.5mm., at edge 6mm.

Wood box with inscription by Sato Kanzan, without date.

Provenance

Dr. Sato Kanzan

Literature

Homma, Sato and Murakami (1966), no. 140, p. 114.
Homma and Sato (1972), no. 563, p. 327.
L'Arcade Chaumet (1976), no. 64, p. 18.
One Hundred Masterpieces (1992), no. 59.

Lot Essay

Washida Mitsutoki II was the son of Washida Tokitaka (1776-1833) and the student of Yanagawa Naotsura (circa 1825). Although his work is in the classic late Shonai tradition he could work in many media and produced not only tsuba but also many small fittings in both iron and soft metal.