Owari Toda Hikozaemon Iron Tsuba

[Steve Waszak]

Offered here is a very fine tsuba made by one of the "Three Owari Masters of Genroku," Toda Hikozaemon (Fukui Jizaemon and "Sakura" Yamakichibei were the other two).  Toda Hikozaemon tsuba are known for a number of features, including exceptionally fine amida-yasuri, a finely-rendered goishi-gata, a delicately-worked uchikaeshi mimi, and ko-sukashi motifs.  This tsuba exhibits all of these, with the amida-yasuri being especially brilliantly done in its extreme subtlety.  The color of this tsuba, too, is extraordinary, being close to that of the wet sand on the beaches of southern California (a dark taupe).  The Owari-ume plug is a perfect complement to the color of the plate, while the sukashi motif of crossed hats fairly dances across the field on the other side of the nakago-ana.  The tsuba also boast the beautifully soft sheen of an old patina.  The seppazuri indicates significant time spent mounted on a koshirae.

 

The tsuba is signed with the unmistakably idiosyncratic calligraphy of Toda Hikozaemon, a lightly-incised loose "scrawling" that is much appreciated by many for its verve and unique character. 

 

Toda Hikozaemon worked in Owari Province in the latter 1600s.  His work is generally very well regarded, and certainly in his own time, he was a major tsubako, being included, as mentioned above, as one of the "Three Owari Masters of Genroku."  The Genroku Period lasted some 16 years, from 1688-1704, and is know as a time of artistic renaissance of sorts.  Toda would certainly have been a significance artistic voice of the age. 

 

For more on Toda Hikozaemon, please see Okamoto's Owari to Mikawa No Tanko and Art and the Sword, Volume 3.

 

SOLD

 

Size is 75.2 mm x 5.5 mm at the nakako-ana.  134 grams.  *Note:  at approximately 3:00, there is a tiny mark on the mimi that appears to have been made by the blow of a sword.  No idea, though, what this actually is.  The depth of this cut is minimal, at less than 1mm. 

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[Marius]

This is an exquisite tsuba. The photos aren't showing the quality of iron, which I expect to be superb.  Also, the mimi is incredible. Those tiny irregularities - what a subtle juxtaposition! A lesser tsubako would have given the plate a "perfect" mimi. This is Owari workmanship at its best, but also an emanation of Genroku art.

 

At this price it is a steal.