"Presented here is a excellent sukashi tsuba displaying the highest quality iron with clear, fine horizontal laminations on the plate and on the reverse side in the uppermost pine. The surface area has been finely burnished and the edges pleasingly rounded and sloped. All in all a deep purpleish black patina that is luscious. This is the same high quality iron that was also used on contemporaneous armors.
The motif is a three storied pine tree by the 2nd generation (nidai) Nishigaki master, Kanshiro. The motif is executed in positive silhouette or yo-sukashi (陽透). The branches and veining of the leaves are delicately carved in kebori, and as typical of nidai works, some of the carving encrouches into the seppadai, and the hitsuana are asymmetric. In concert with the sukashi motif, the outer rim evokes the old gnarled character of a mature, large branch of the pine tree." (Long)
Dr. Torigoye's hako-gaki attestation in the upper right includes a rare vertical red seal which he used for pieces encountered in Japan, which he felt were masterpieces. (see images)
Front Lid:
西垣勘四郎 –Nishigaki Kanshiro
Inside Lid:
無銘二代西垣勘四郎 – Mumei, Nidai Nishigaki Kanshiro – Unsigned by Nishigaki Kanshiro II
鉄地 – Tetsu-ji – Iron ground
三階松 – Sankai-matsu – 3 storied pine
径二寸九分, 二寸八分 – Kei: ni-sun kyu-bu, ni-sun hachi-bu – Diameter: ~8.8cm x 8.5cm
右正真也 – Migi shoshin nari – Above described object is authentic
昭和廾九年十一月三日 – Showa nijukyunen juichigatsu sannichi – November 3rd, 1954
草堂 – [花押] – Sodo + kao – Sodo [pen name of Torigoye Kazutaro, 鳥越一太郎] + monogram
Attributed with Hakogaki by Dr. Kazutaro Torigoye dated November 3rd, 1954.
8.80cm x 8.50cm x 0.40cm |
