Tsuba Kyō-sukashi, NBTHK Hozon Tōsogu

Akasaka tsuba with Spools (Itomaki) design

Edo Period, 17th - 18th Century

Iron pierced with positive openwork design

Diameter: 8.3 x 8.1 cm

Thickness: 0.6 cm

Specifications: Tatemarugata tetsu-ji, ji-sukashi, marumimi

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsogu

Elegant iron tsuba with positive openwork design of four stylized spools. Such kind of strong and linear design is typical of Tadamasa, at the origin of Akasaka school, and is testimony to the great genius of this master.

Akasaka sword guards were manufactured in the Akasaka area of Edo, starting in the Kan-ei era (l648) and continuing until the ninth year of Meiji (1876). The style reminds Owari rather than Kyo tsuba and some believe that the first two masters, both named Tadamasa, came from the Owari region.

Akasaka tsuba often are made of three layers of metal welded together and this can be seen in the inside of the rim of this one.

The tsuba comes with a Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsogu certificate (fitting especially worth of preservation) issued by Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai. 

Price band: within 5,000€