Question on papered Akasaka

[lotus]

Recently acquired Akasaka tsuba with NBTHK papers. I am trying to figure out what generation to attribute this piece. I looked into my books and they have given me an idea but would like to get your opinion on it.

 

Dimensions are 65mm wide x 71mm tall and 7mm thickness.

 

Pics attached.

[Soshin]

Hi Patrick R.,

 

From looking at the large width of the sukashi and the overall composition of the openwork design I would say likely mid to late generation Akasaka (i.e. 6th to 8th generation). Does the NBTHK papers attribute the tsuba to just Akasaka or Kodai Akasaka? Can you please post a photo or scan of the NBTHK paper? Having more information about the specific attribution would be helpful. The color of the iron's patina looks really nice.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[lotus]

Thanks for the info. Here is a pic of the paper.

[Soshin]

Hi Patrick R.,

 

Well the NBTHK Hozon paper just says "Akasaka". Looking at it and comparing it to examples in two reference books on Akasaka tsuba I think it is likely the work of the school made around the time of the 5th or the 6th generation master during the late 1700s or early 1800s. If it looked to be a work of a even later generation it would have the attribution like "Kodai Akasaka". I am sure more avid collectors of this school could provide additional information.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[lotus]

Thanks again for looking into it. I thought due to the pointed seppa dai and it being very thick at 7mm, it might go earlier than that. My books mostly focus on the generations 1-4 and say very little on what later generations look like. Though they do say later generations tend to run thinner and tend to be more in the style of Higo which this one is neither. Of course this one could be an exception to the rule.

 

The Sasano Early Guards book has a 1st generation example with a similar design having 3 birds (not herons like mine though), pier, and river motif. I would take that to mean this is an Akasaka styled design rather than Higo. Another problem I have is that I do not know what "early" iron truly looks like in hand. I only have pictures to compare it too. Perhaps the more homogeneous nature of the iron of mine points to a later generation?

 

I look forward to hearing from others as well.

[Soshin]

Hi Patrick R.,

 

With all due respect as I consider you a friend if the NBTHK thinks the tsuba was produced during the working period of a early master (1st to 3rd generation) of the Akasaka school it would have the attribution of "Ko-Akasaka" (古赤坂). To me the patina and the quality of the sukashi workmanship and design isn't at the level that you would see in the 4th generation in my honest opinion which isn't worth much as I don't even have a Akasaka tsuba in my collection. There is a 5th generation Akasaka tsuba with a similar design in Sasano's first English book on page 212. I would PM Curran C., Mike Y., Fred G., or other high rolling tsuba guys who have Ko-Akasaka tsuba worth more then my whole collection. They can provide more helpful information.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[lotus]

Yeah, that was the one I saw in the book. I must have been tired when I read the caption as I thought it read first hereditary master not fifth. My mistake. I think it probably is later like you mentioned as those nice ko-akasaka are rather expensive. Still, it is a vast improvement over that cast tsuba I returned.