Details
A HEIANJO TSUBA
MUROMACHI PERIOD (CIRCA 1500)

The round iron plate is decorated on both sides in brass inlays of peony blooms, leaves and tendrils. There are round openings (sukashi) on the top and bottom of the plate, and ovals on either side of the hitsu-ana. Some tendril wires have been lost--height and width 10.0cm., thickness 4.5mm.

Double wood storage boxes. Inner box with inscription by Sato Kanzan, dated Showa 49 (1974). Accompanied by a tokubetsu kicho certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., no. 161, dated Showa 46 (1971), honbu shinsa (Tokyo shinsa).
Provenance
Aoyama, Paris

Lot Essay

This style of tsuba, often given the designation of Heianjo school, could also be from the last period of the Onin brass inlay style of the Muromachi period. The large peony bloom and leaves are cast in molds and inlaid onto the plate as all such Onin decoration had been fashioned. A few examples in this style were made as late as the Genroku era (1688-1704).

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