AN HAGIYA SCHOOL TSUBA

Details

AN HAGIYA SCHOOL TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1875), SIGNED HAGIYA KATSUHIRA

The four-lobed iron plate (mokko) has a slightly raised flat rim and a squared edge. The face is inlaid with two finely carved gold dragons. The reverse is decorated with a single gold dragon. The signature is inlaid on a shibuichi plate set into the iron plate on the reverse of the seppa-dai. The kogai hitsu-ana is plugged in shakudo-- height 8.4cm., width 7.8cm., thickness at center 4.0mm., web inlay thickness 8.5mm.

Double wood storage boxes. The inner box with inscription by Sato Kanzan is dated Showa 46 (1971). Accompanied by a tokubetsu kicho certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., no. 242, dated Showa 46 (1971).

Literature

Mino and Robinson (1983), no. 19 a and b, p. 22.

Lot Essay

Hagiya Katsuhira (or Katsuhei) (1804-1886) was born in Mito. Among his students were Unno Shomin (1844-1915) and Kano Natsuo (1828-1898). The latter part of his career saw many foreigners visiting Japan and Katsuhira's work appealed to Victorian taste. For this reason there are many fine examples of Katsuhira's work in Europe and America.

See Compton catalogue, Part I, lots 208 and 209 for other examples by this artist.

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