Estimate
€ 1.800 - 2.500
Sold
€ 3.500
The price includes buyer's premium
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Information
dimensions 5.7 x 6.4 x 0.35 cm
Made of shibuichi, of trapezoidal shape with rounded corners (aori-gata), smooth, polished surface with slightly raised border, silver sekigane, trace of an old hilt. The omotè, on the right, and the centre of the upper border engraved with the trunk and branch of an old blackthorn, whose roughness is highlighted with a thin "ke-bori" with small remains of silver iroè, two small gold spots resembling climbing insects. The blackthorn is blossoming, the flowers are engraved in relief on the surface, "hira zogan" with silver, copper and gold iroè, the buds are made of copper and silver. The left side of the plum tree engraved in ke-bori with a young bamboo plant with twigs and leaves, the larger ones are made of hira-zogan and dark, patinated shakudo, smaller twigs and leaves of a light kata-kiri- bori, the smooth trunk of the bamboo stands out. The bottom left side featuring a plant of chrysanthemums whose flowers are made of shakudo and of silver. The lower left ura with an orchid plant delicately engraved with hira-zogan, shakudo and gold, the leaves are engraved with light kata-kiri-bori. To appreciate the perfectly preserved dark patina and the minute size of the details a magnifying glass and a good light are required. Goto Ichjijo is a member of one of the branches of the ancient Goto family, but he soon abandoned the ancient styles for his own new technique featuring smooth surfaces and naturalistic subjects, this tsuba is a classic example of his work; many of his pupils were to become the best artists of the time, and one of them is the manufacturer of our item. The four depicted plants - chrysanthemum, orchid, bamboo and blackthorn - are among the artists' favourite (Lowemberger); they are a depiction of beauty, almost an ode to nature. The period is definitely mid 19th century. Provenance: Joseph U. Collection. Deo, NY and later Compton Collection, Christie's NY sale, 22/10/1992.
Made of shibuichi, of trapezoidal shape with rounded corners (aori-gata), smooth, polished surface with slightly raised border, silver sekigane, trace of an old hilt. The omotè, on the right, and the centre of the upper border engraved with the trunk and branch of an old blackthorn, whose roughness is highlighted with a thin "ke-bori" with small remains of silver iroè, two small gold spots resembling climbing insects. The blackthorn is blossoming, the flowers are engraved in relief on the surface, "hira zogan" with silver, copper and gold iroè, the buds are made of copper and silver. The left side of the plum tree engraved in ke-bori with a young bamboo plant with twigs and leaves, the larger ones are made of hira-zogan and dark, patinated shakudo, smaller twigs and leaves of a light kata-kiri- bori, the smooth trunk of the bamboo stands out. The bottom left side featuring a plant of chrysanthemums whose flowers are made of shakudo and of silver. The lower left ura with an orchid plant delicately engraved with hira-zogan, shakudo and gold, the leaves are engraved with light kata-kiri-bori. To appreciate the perfectly preserved dark patina and the minute size of the details a magnifying glass and a good light are required. Goto Ichjijo is a member of one of the branches of the ancient Goto family, but he soon abandoned the ancient styles for his own new technique featuring smooth surfaces and naturalistic subjects, this tsuba is a classic example of his work; many of his pupils were to become the best artists of the time, and one of them is the manufacturer of our item. The four depicted plants - chrysanthemum, orchid, bamboo and blackthorn - are among the artists' favourite (Lowemberger); they are a depiction of beauty, almost an ode to nature. The period is definitely mid 19th century. Provenance: Joseph U. Collection. Deo, NY and later Compton Collection, Christie's NY sale, 22/10/1992.