| The Kinai were a prominent family within the Echizen group of tsuba metalworkers, continuing for six generations from the early Edo period through the end of the Edo period. They had connections with the Akao Yoshitsugu and Myochin Yoshihisa families. The early generations are particularly well known for applying Kinai-bori carving to blades by Yasutsugu. As few dated works are known, it is said to be difficult to distinguish the individual generations by the style of the signature alone. One characteristic of Kinai tsuba is that the signature is generally engraved on the reverse. Judging from the calm, well-aged character of the iron, this work is thought to date from around the middle Edo period. It is a fine Kinai tsuba depicting numerous gourds growing abundantly on winding vines, skillfully rendered in three-dimensional carving and openwork. It passed the NBTHK Hozon Tosogu shinsa in 2008. Comparison with the photograph attached to the NBTHK certificate shows that the tsuba has received careful maintenance since the time of the shinsa. The iron surface is now in improved condition, and the shakudo plugs that formerly filled both hitsu-ana have been removed. |
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