| This tsuba is mumei, but considered to be of the "Kiyosada [清定]" or "Kusakari school [草刈派]" style. Kiyosada was a master craftsman from Sendai. The Kusakari clan. Born in Sendai during mid Edo Period, around the Kanpo era (1741-1744), he first studied under his father's teacher, Masamura Shichiemon, and later moved to Edo to study under the Omori school. He returned to Sendai during the Tenmei era (1781-1789) and served the Date clan with his father. He ingeniously incorporated traditional Sendai inlay techniques, adding designs and carving techniques such as military fans and hemp leaf patterns and made tsuba, kozuka and fuchi-kashira with inlaid a large amount of gold on a shakudo-ishimeji ground. This tsuba features skillfully applied gold ivy vines line inlay, varying in intensity on the dotemimi area. The gold rim and gold inner rim with buried hitsu-ana/holes add a touch of elegance. It is in excellent condition. |
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