A SWORDSMITH'S TSUBA

Details
A SWORDSMITH'S TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1800), SIGNED SUISHIN MASAHIDE

The oval iron plate is carved with over eighty-five parallel grooves. These cover the entire surface including the seppa-dai on both sides. The lines terminate at the edge of the plate in a groove. The slightly rounded edge is polished smooth. The tsuba is signed in a slightly sunken polished reserve--height 7.3cm., width 7cm., thickness at center 6mm., at edge 4.5mm.

Lot Essay

This tsuba was made by the swordsmith Suishinshi Masahide (1750-1825). His family name was Kawabe although he often used the name Fujiwara. He was a retainer of the Akimoto family, daimyo of Yamagata, who resided at Tatebayashi in Kozuke Province. Masahide was born in Dewa but went to Edo to learn swordmaking. He employed the art names Suishin, Suishinshi, Hidekuni and Tenshu.