Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)

A pair of copper and shakudō menuki depicting snails

Edo period, 17th century

Length: 43 and 44.5 mm

Literature:
M. Ito, Works of Hayashi and Kamiyoshi (Tokyo, 2008), cat. 13 pp. 69, 429 

The snails are interpreted in their slow but inexorable movement. The menuki are made from a single piece of suaka (copper), with the snail shell crafted from a thin sheet of shakudō and the eyes inlaid in shakudō-zogan. As always with Miyamoto Musashi's works, this is an amateur piece, but the slightly deformed shapes lend an uncanny atmosphere, typical of his works, which shows his style very well.

Miyamoto Musashi, also known by his pseudonym “Niten,” is a legendary figure in 17th-century Japan, best known for his expertise in the use of the sword. However, in addition to his undisputed talent as a swordsman, Musashi also distinguished himself as an artist, leaving behind a creative legacy ranging from sculpture to painting and crafts.

In 1640, at the invitation of Hosokawa Tadatoshi, Musashi moved to Higo Province, where he taught military strategies until his death in 1645. During his stay in Higo, Musashi also took up the art of tsuba and tōsogu making. These creations, simple and never signed, reflect a mature and controlled aesthetic typical of the period. While maintaining a certain austerity in form, his works possess a warm refinement, comparable to his pictorial works. Musashi probably knew several local master metalworkers, including Jingo, Hikozo, and Kanshiro, all of whom influenced his interest in sword fittings.

Although the techniques Musashi used were deliberately simple, the result is anything but superficial. His handcrafted works have a strong, unmistakable presence that manages to evoke the very character of Musashi: a man with a total mastery of the martial arts and a unique artistic sensibility. Each piece, however simple, holds an inherent energy and sense of presence that brings us closer to the essence of a man who combined art and martial mastery in a sublime way. His legacy is not only that of a warrior, but also of a fine artist and deep thinker.