The KINAI School

Period:

Edo period.

Basic Shape:

Round or rarely mokko.

Seppa-dai:

Koban shape.

Hitsu-ana:

They are wider than is average, similar in style to the shape used by the Shoami school.

Design Characteristics:

Dragons, aoi plant, plum, waterwheel, and a few others are more common to the early generations. After the fourth generation, autumn plants, and insects in very detailed carving are used. The late style was continued to the end of the Edo age.

Plate Metal:

Iron, the color is rich brown, in later work the color is blacker, closer to that of the Choshu tsuba of the same period.

Inlay:

Inlay work, usually gold nunome, is occasionally found on the work of the early generations. It may be more common on the work of the later generations, and will be used in more generous quanities.

Comments:

When one hears the name Kinai the first style of tsuba that comes to mind are the dragon and aoi plant subjects so common to tsuba of this school. When one has a chance to see the superior examples of the tsuba of the Kinai school the true value of their work will be apparent.


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