Lot Essay
The artist Kiyotaka was a metalworker to the Choshu clan. He usually worked in typical Choshu style with nikubori ji-sukashi and iroe or ita tsuba with sukidashi bori. During his long life, he also combined the Bushu Ito styles with realistic carving. He sometimes used shakudo nanako which was rare to Choshu. This example has an interesting Bushu Ito composition with dew laden grasses arching before the strong winds of Musashino.
The subject of the second piece is an interesting pun used by samurai. Budo [grape] ni risu [squirrel] is also written using different characters and meaning ie Budo [martial art] and ni risu [effective].
The subject of the second piece is an interesting pun used by samurai. Budo [grape] ni risu [squirrel] is also written using different characters and meaning ie Budo [martial art] and ni risu [effective].