Lot Essay
Tomotsune was an artist of great importance to Choshu. Tomoyuki and Tomotsune II were grandsons of the first generation, who was a metalworker to the Mori family. Early documents state that he was given three fuchi [payment to feed workers] and 4 goku from 1763.
According to the famous connoisseur of kodogu, Ogura Sozaemon said of Choshu tsuba "The origins of Choshu are said to be of the Umetada line, because the descendants of Umetada Myoju moved to the Choshu region and joined the Okada family. However, in contradiction there were already ensconced in Choshu the Kawaji, Nakai and Okamoto who all seem to belong or at least to have been influenced by the Shoami school."
In any event, it is almost certain that the Choshu tsuba appeared during the Genroku period (1686-1704). The early type developed from Kenjo tsuba using nikubori and kinzogan. There are also others in the style of Shoami with suemon zogan decoration on ita plate. These are more refined.
It was not until the Tempo period (circa 1830) that we see the characteristic Choshu tsuba without sukashi.
According to the famous connoisseur of kodogu, Ogura Sozaemon said of Choshu tsuba "The origins of Choshu are said to be of the Umetada line, because the descendants of Umetada Myoju moved to the Choshu region and joined the Okada family. However, in contradiction there were already ensconced in Choshu the Kawaji, Nakai and Okamoto who all seem to belong or at least to have been influenced by the Shoami school."
In any event, it is almost certain that the Choshu tsuba appeared during the Genroku period (1686-1704). The early type developed from Kenjo tsuba using nikubori and kinzogan. There are also others in the style of Shoami with suemon zogan decoration on ita plate. These are more refined.
It was not until the Tempo period (circa 1830) that we see the characteristic Choshu tsuba without sukashi.