Lot Essay
This tsuba, though unsigned, is strongly characteristic of the mainline Hirata family style.
Details
A HIRATA STYLE TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1750)
The iron plate is of squared, four-lobed shape with a raised rounded rim and edge showing a few delicate iron bones. The web is inlaid on the face with two heart-shaped gold cloisonné, clear glass inlays and a number of gold wire and dot inlays in floral patterns. The reverse has one heart-shaped cloisonné inlay and gold wire floral and "Hirata swirls" in the upper left. The hitsu-ana are plugged in lead--height 7.3cm., width 7.2cm., thickness 3.75mm.
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1750)
The iron plate is of squared, four-lobed shape with a raised rounded rim and edge showing a few delicate iron bones. The web is inlaid on the face with two heart-shaped gold cloisonné, clear glass inlays and a number of gold wire and dot inlays in floral patterns. The reverse has one heart-shaped cloisonné inlay and gold wire floral and "Hirata swirls" in the upper left. The hitsu-ana are plugged in lead--height 7.3cm., width 7.2cm., thickness 3.75mm.