Lot 116
116
A TACHIKANAGUSHI TSUBA

Details
A TACHIKANAGUSHI TSUBA
MUROMACHI PERIOD (CIRCA 1500)

The unrefined copper (yamagane) squared and four-lobed plate has boar's-eye (inome sukashi) openings at the indentations. The surface is inlaid with shakudo hirazogan depicting a Chinese bellflower (kikyo), with leaves and tendrils which extend over the edge of the plate. There are five blooms on each side. The hitsu-ana appears to be original although the shape may have been slightly altered. The regular indentations on either side of the nakago-ana are original and are indentifying marks placed there by the artist. The areas around the bloom are carved in outline, but these areas are now filled with incrustations. There are some areas of missing inlay especially on the edge--height 6.9cm., width 6.5cm., thickness 4.5mm.

Lot Essay

This type of tachikanagushi tsuba is traditionally said to have come from Higo Province. It was probably commissioned by the Kikuchi daimyo of Kumamoto in Higo circa 1500. During the Muromachi period a tsuba of this quality would only have been worn by a person of high rank. It demonstrates a refinement and elegance rarely seen during the Onin to Bunki periods (1467-1501).