High Period Tsuba (bushu Ito Style) – Mumei - Forged Iron With Gold Inlays
HighPeriod Tsuba (Bushu Ito Style) – Mumei – Forged iron with gold inlays.
This tsuba is much more than anaccessory: it is a work of art that bears witness to the end of the Samurai era.With its balance and the precision of its craftsmanship, it is aprime piece for any collector seeking to illustrate the transition fromwar sword to the art sword in the 19th century.
Selling price, excludingshipping costs.
ARTISTIC AND SYMBOLIC DESCRIPTION:
This piece is amasterful illustration of the refinement of the artisans of the Bushu Ito school. Thecentral motif, composed of fans (Sensu) and an architectural element (stylizedroof), evokes a scene of summer contemplation, typical of theliterary aesthetic (Fuga) popular among samurai in the late Edo period.
The contrast between thedark, robust patina of the iron and the delicate luster of the gold inlayslends this piece a understated elegance characteristic ofprestigious fittings.
EXPERT ASSESSMENT AND COMPARISON:
To confirm the attributionof this piece, we conducted in-depth comparative researchwith certified and documented examples from the Bushu Ito school. Thiscomparative analysis revealed a strong stylistic identity: thedistinctive use of negative space in the Sukashi technique, the finesse ofthe gold thread inlays (Ito-zogan), and the precision of the engraving work onthe natural motifs correspond exactly to the reference worksfrom this school in the 19th century. This correlation confirms the authenticity ofthe artisanal and technical approach of this guard.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Materials:Iron, with gold inlays
Dimensions: 7.5 cm x 7.2 cm.
Weight: 100 grams (perfectly balanced).
Manufacturing technique: Sukashi-tsuba (openworkcraftsmanship). The cutout is hand-carved from a single sheet of iron,ensuring perfect mirror symmetry between the Omote (front) and Ura(back) sides.
Ornamentation: Features finegold-wire inlays (Ito-zogan) forming scroll motifs, demonstratinga high level of goldsmithing skill.
Condition: Exceptional.The iron’s natural patina is preserved, and the gold inlays showno major damage, a testament to the care and preservation overseveral centuries.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: THE BUSHU ITO SCHOOL
The work of the BushuIto School (Musashi Province) holds a prominent place in the history of Tosogu(sword fittings).
Specialty : Renowned for its exceptional mastery of openwork ironwork, the school has evolved over the centuries toward a pursuit of finesse and naturalistic detail.
Aesthetics: Unlike the austere, warlike tsubas of previous centuries, the 19th-century Bushu Ito style emphasizes a balance between strength (forged iron) and delicacy (engraving and inlay work).
The Mumei Aspect: Although unsigned (Mumei), the piece exhibits all the stylistic attributes that attest to itsproduction by the masters of this lineage. In thecollectors’ market, such a piece is valued for its technical integrity andhistorical authenticity.
This tsuba is much more than anaccessory: it is a work of art that bears witness to the end of the Samurai era.With its balance and the precision of its craftsmanship, it is aprime piece for any collector seeking to illustrate the transition fromwar sword to the art sword in the 19th century.
Selling price, excludingshipping costs.
ARTISTIC AND SYMBOLIC DESCRIPTION:
This piece is amasterful illustration of the refinement of the artisans of the Bushu Ito school. Thecentral motif, composed of fans (Sensu) and an architectural element (stylizedroof), evokes a scene of summer contemplation, typical of theliterary aesthetic (Fuga) popular among samurai in the late Edo period.
The contrast between thedark, robust patina of the iron and the delicate luster of the gold inlayslends this piece a understated elegance characteristic ofprestigious fittings.
EXPERT ASSESSMENT AND COMPARISON:
To confirm the attributionof this piece, we conducted in-depth comparative researchwith certified and documented examples from the Bushu Ito school. Thiscomparative analysis revealed a strong stylistic identity: thedistinctive use of negative space in the Sukashi technique, the finesse ofthe gold thread inlays (Ito-zogan), and the precision of the engraving work onthe natural motifs correspond exactly to the reference worksfrom this school in the 19th century. This correlation confirms the authenticity ofthe artisanal and technical approach of this guard.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Materials:Iron, with gold inlays
Dimensions: 7.5 cm x 7.2 cm.
Weight: 100 grams (perfectly balanced).
Manufacturing technique: Sukashi-tsuba (openworkcraftsmanship). The cutout is hand-carved from a single sheet of iron,ensuring perfect mirror symmetry between the Omote (front) and Ura(back) sides.
Ornamentation: Features finegold-wire inlays (Ito-zogan) forming scroll motifs, demonstratinga high level of goldsmithing skill.
Condition: Exceptional.The iron’s natural patina is preserved, and the gold inlays showno major damage, a testament to the care and preservation overseveral centuries.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: THE BUSHU ITO SCHOOL
The work of the BushuIto School (Musashi Province) holds a prominent place in the history of Tosogu(sword fittings).
Specialty : Renowned for its exceptional mastery of openwork ironwork, the school has evolved over the centuries toward a pursuit of finesse and naturalistic detail.
Aesthetics: Unlike the austere, warlike tsubas of previous centuries, the 19th-century Bushu Ito style emphasizes a balance between strength (forged iron) and delicacy (engraving and inlay work).
The Mumei Aspect: Although unsigned (Mumei), the piece exhibits all the stylistic attributes that attest to itsproduction by the masters of this lineage. In thecollectors’ market, such a piece is valued for its technical integrity andhistorical authenticity.
820 €
Period: 19th century
Style: Asian art
Condition: Excellent condition
Material: Wrought iron
Reference (ID): 1792120
Availability: In stock
Print
