Two more tsuba... Early Hikozo?

[Steve Waszak]

Offered today are a pair of iron tsuba, both of which have Higo characteristics, and more specifically hint at being from the hand of Hirata Hikozo.  It must be remembered that, while he is referred to as a Higo tsubako, Hirata Hikozo lived and worked in Higo province for only some three years, from 1632 to 1635, when he died.  So, however long he lived, he spent relatively little time in Higo.  His connection to Hosokawa Sansai (the Higo daimyo from 1632 to 1645), however, extends back well earlier than this; it was Sansai who brought Hikozo with him to Higo when he became the daimyo there in 1632.  The degree to which Hikozo brought his designs with him to Higo may never be known, but these two tsuba may be examples of his earlier work in iron.  Hikozo is much more well known for his incredible works in soft metal, but he is known to have created some pieces in iron; in fact, the only known signed Hikozo tsuba is iron.

 

Tsuba #1:  This is an eight-lobed sword guard measuring 8cm x 7.6cm x 4mm at the nakago-ana and 2.5mm at the rim.  The nakago-ana on this piece is very large, indicating that it was fitted to a quite a sizable katana.  Two extended rectangular sukashi are adjacent to the nakago-ana, and two udenuki-ana are present below it.  The lobes are scalloped along the edges to create a beautifully modeled effect.  The condition of this tsuba is excellent.  There is a small notch cut out of one of the rectangles to accomodate a kuzuka.  If this is in fact an early Hikozo work, it is quite the bargain.   $650 plus shipping.  

[Steve Waszak]

Tsuba #2

 

This is a beautiful sword guard featuring sukashi of "rays" in addition to gently-incised lines expressing the same.  The motif here may be referencing the rays of Amida Buddhism.  This tsuba boasts a subtly masterful shape, measuring 8.1cm x 7.9 cm.  It is a very thin piece, just 2.5mm at the nakago-ana, and 2mm at the rim.  The color and condition of the metal are both excellent.  As with the tsuba above, if this, too, is an early example of Hirata Hikozo's iron guards, it is a fortunate find.    $900 plus shipping.  

 

 

[Steve Waszak]

Weekend price drop!    

 

Tsuba #1 is now $500.

 

Tsuba #2 is now $800.

 

"He who hesitates is lost!"    

[Steve Waszak]

Bump, with a final price drop on Tsuba #1, now $425, and Tsuba #2, now $775 (plus shipping).    These are really good prices on tsuba of this quality coming out of the Higo tradition.