A SOTEN SCHOOL TSUBA

Details
A SOTEN SCHOOL TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1800), SIGNED GOSHU HIKONE JU KEIRYUSHI NYUDO TADASHIGE TSUKURU

The oval iron plate is pierced and carved in openwork and is inlaid in gold nunome, copper, shakudo and silver with a design depicting the seven sages of the bamboo grove. The work is in pure Soten school style--height 7.2cm., width 6.8cm., thickness 5mm.

Lot Essay

Tadashige was a member of the Toyama family. This appears to be the only example by him signed Goshu Hikone ju. In later work of this school it is rare that the guard is signed by the artist who made it; often the name of an earlier artist is given. In late work of the Soten school it is very rare for the tsuba to be signed by the artist, and not with the generic name Soten.