A SHONAI SCHOOL IRON TSUBA

Details

A SHONAI SCHOOL IRON TSUBA
LATE EDO/EARLY MEIJI PERIOD (CIRCA 1850-1875), SIGNED SEKIBUN ROJIN

The octagonal iron rounded corner plate is decorated with a bold carved design of crashing waves with gold dots of spray on the face and two swallows in shakudo, silver, copper, and gold. The reverse with wild geese carved from the plate at the top and crashing waves, with gold and silver dots of spray, at the bottom--height 8.5cm., width 8.2cm., thickness at center 3mm., at edge 6.1mm.

Double wood storage boxes. Inner box with inscription by Sato Kanzan, dated autumn, 1974.

Accompanied by a tokubetsu kicho certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., no. 142, dated April 15th, 1971.

Provenance

Joseph U. Seo, New York

Literature

For an almost identical design by his son Sekibun II, see Mosle (1914), no. 910, pl. LXVII. For an almost identical design by Ishiyama Zaiya of Shonai, see Sato (1966), no. 134, p. 109.
One Hundred Masterpieces (1992), no. 58.

Lot Essay

Katsurano Yurakusai Sekibun I (1790-1875) was born Murakami in Echigo Province and later moved to Shonai where he became a retainer of the Sakai daimyo. His best work displays all the power and strength of Tsuchiya Yasuchika (1670-1744), but with a rustic flavor.