A KO-AKASAKA SUKASHI TSUBA

Details

A KO-AKASAKA SUKASHI TSUBA
EARLY EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1650)

The round iron plate is pierced with a design of the fylfot (manji) symbol of the Buddha, matsukawabishi crests (mon) and four support rods at the cardinal points. The plate is of classic three layer construction--height 8.0cm., width 7.9cm., thickness 7.1mm.

Literature

Homma, Sato, Ogawa and Compton (1976), no. XXX, p. 130.
One Hundred Masterpieces (1992), no. 50.

Lot Essay

This is a particularly strong example of early Akasaka school work. The majority of pieces from this date have designs of flowing lines of varying thickness, in contrast to the bold angles and rigid form of the present sword guard.