TWO EDO KINKO TSUBA

Details
TWO EDO KINKO TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1850), VARIOUSLY SIGNED

The tsuba comprising: a mokko shibuichi stone-surface plate carved with shakudo and silver festival drum and gold and copper vines (inlay of gold cock on drum missing), the reverse of similar surface inlaid with vines, gold hen and chick, signed Juo Masayoshi Saku--8.2cm. high, 7.8cm. wide, 4.5mm. thick; and a mokko shakudo stone-surface plate decorated with six of the twelve animals of the zodiac, inlaid in copper, silver, shakudo, shibuichi and gold, in high relief, inscribed Tsuchiya Masachika Kai Rokudai Mei Yasuchika--7.2cm. high, 6.5cm. wide, 4mm. thick (2)

Lot Essay

The Masayoshi example is the work of an artist of the Hamano family, not of the famed Ishiguro master who used the same kanji. The Masachika signature differs from those recorded for this master and, as the tsuba depicts only six of the twelve zodiac animals, there was probably a larger one (dai) depicting the remaining six.