| This tsuba is of octagonal form, with a polished copper plate on which a pine tree is skillfully rendered in katakiribori carving. The shakudō rim adds a refined and elegant character to the piece.Judging from the style of workmanship, it is thought to be a product of the Shōnai metalworking tradition. Shōnai corresponds to present-day Tsuruoka City in Yamagata Prefecture. As the castle town of the Sakai clan, hereditary daimyō of the Edo period, it became a center where many metalworkers and tsuba makers were active.Among the notable craftsmen associated with this tradition are Tsuchiya Yasuchika, Watanabe Arichika, Washida Mitsutoki, and Yūraku-sai Katsurano Sekibun. |
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