| This tsuba is mumei, attributed to Ko-kinko. "Ko-kinko" is a collective term for Muromachi-period sword fittings that cannot be attributed to a specific school, such as Gotō, Kyō-kinkō, or Mino. It has acquired the deep, subdued patina characteristic of high-quality shakudō, while the well-worn nanako ground reflects the beauty that only centuries of age can produce. The design depicts a drying fishing net and plovers in flight, executed in high relief with inlay and gold iroe, while the clouds are carved in low relief. The silver-inlaid lattice pattern of the fishing net provides a strong visual anchor to the composition, and the gold iroe rocks rising above the waves add an elegant accent to the otherwise restrained design. The tranquil coastal scene is expressed with remarkable refinement and simplicity, revealing the dignity and sophistication characteristic of early Japanese metalwork. It passed the NBTHK Hozon Tosogu shinsa in 1999. |
Search
