A HIGO SCHOOL TSUBA | Christie's

A HIGO SCHOOL TSUBA

Details

A HIGO SCHOOL TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1700)

The very elongated four-lobed shape iron plate has a round rim and edge and an openwork design of four family crests. The nine luminaries crest of the Hosokawa family is at the top. The paulownia crest (kiri mon) is at the right side and the chrysanthemum crest (kiku mon) is at the left side. The bottom has a design of two bars in a circle (hiki maru mon). There is fine surface carving--height 8.4cm., width 7.0cm., thickness 5.5mm.

Lot Essay

This unusually shaped tsuba has four family crests used as its design. On the left and right are the chrysanthemum and paulownia crest associated with the imperial family. At the top is the Hosokawa family crest, and at the bottom, the crest of the Ashikaga family.

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