Kunitomo Tsuba

Shonai Shoami Tsuba (NBTHK)
The above kanji are done in a style of Archaic Chinese Seal Script of the Eastern Zhou to Qin dynasty period. This style appeared very early in the development of Chinese writing, as far back in the Shang dynasty oracle bone script.

Unknown Kakihan (kao) of Tsubaco
NBTHK Hozon attribution to Shonai Shoami.
Shōnai (庄内藩, Shōnai-han), also known as Tsuruoka-han, was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in Dewa Province. Though it was officially named Tsuruoka (鶴岡藩, Tsuruoka-han), it was commonly known as Shōnai. It was famous for being ruled by one of the great fudai daimyō houses, the Sakai, and it achieved great prominence in the late Edo period as a military power. Shōnai had command of the Shinchōgumi, the unit organized for the security of Edo in the 1860s. The Sakai clan (酒井氏, Sakai-shi), descend from Emperor Seiwa and are a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. Nitta Yoshisue, 4th son of Nitta Yoshishige (+ 1202), settled at Tokugawa (Kozuke province) and took the name of the place. Tokugawa Arichika (14th century), descendant of Yoshisue in the 7th generation is the common ancestor of the Sakai clan and the Matsudaira clan. Due to this fact, the Sakai served the Matsudaira as senior vassals throughout the Sengoku Period, and were classified as fudai from before the foundation of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Sakai soon became chief retainers under Tokugawa Ieyasu, and split into many different branches in the subsequent decades. Fabulous Tsuba by Shonai Shoami Tsubaco. Possible Yasuchika influence. 'Sahari' inlay: OMOI - thought, feelings; KIMI - familiar, sensation, master or lord; ON - kindness, favour, obligation. Late Edo period. Displays influence from Yamashiro Kyoto ju. Keshiire zogan: The design area (script) to be inlaid is carved into the base plate and a thick amalgam of gold is poured into the basin of the carved design. This is repeated until the design area has been filled. Then the surface of the plate is cleaned and the plate area and inlaid area are polished to the same level, leaving the inlay flush to the surface of the plate and covering the area of the pre-cut design. This style of inlay was used by the Kaga school and other kinko workers. Nadegaku-gata shape. Rounded corners. Kaku mimi (rim). 6.8cm x 6.1cm x 0.4cm.
$1200.00

Shōnai (庄内藩, Shōnai-han), also known as Tsuruoka-han, was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in Dewa Province. Though it was officially named Tsuruoka (鶴岡藩, Tsuruoka-han), it was commonly known as Shōnai. It was famous for being ruled by one of the great fudai daimyō houses, the Sakai, and it achieved great prominence in the late Edo period as a military power. Shōnai had command of the Shinchōgumi, the unit organized for the security of Edo in the 1860s.

The Sakai clan (酒井氏, Sakai-shi), descend from Emperor Seiwa and are a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan.

Nitta Yoshisue, 4th son of Nitta Yoshishige (+ 1202), settled at Tokugawa (Kozuke province) and took the name of the place.

Tokugawa Arichika (14th century), descendant of Yoshisue in the 7th generation is the common ancestor of the Sakai clan and the Matsudaira clan. Due to this fact, the Sakai served the Matsudaira as senior vassals throughout the Sengoku Period, and were classified as fudai from before the foundation of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Sakai soon became chief retainers under Tokugawa Ieyasu, and split into many different branches in the subsequent decades.