"The Hazama tsuba is one of the most sought after styles. The reason for this is the use of sahari inlay for the decoration of the bamboo. Sahari is an alloy of several metals that is very hard. The inlay is made from a combination of copper, tin, zinc, and lead. The mixture is then made into the shape of a stick. The stick is ground to powder and the powder is placed in the crevices on the plate that have been engraved to form the design. Then the powder is melted by fire. After the alloy has melted, and filled the areas of the design, the excess is filed from the plate and the surface is polished smooth to the face of the plate. Because the alloy fills the area of the design unevenly, and air pockets are left in the metal from the melting process, the resulting inlay has a corroded appearance. This is natural to the alloy and its method in melting. If it does not have this appearance it is not true sahari inlay.
There is another name by which Hazama tsuba are known, Kameyama school tsuba. In the period from Hoei to Kyoho (1704-1736) at Kameyama, in the province of Ise, the Kunitomo family made this style of tsuba. The sahari style of inlay had been used by this family for generations in the decoration of gun barrels. The two artists who are best known for the sahari style of inlaid tsuba are Sadahide and Masahide.
The most important aspects shown by this tsuba are the well-tempered iron and the excellent inlay. Being that it was polished, the quality of the iron is very much present." (Long)
7.90cm x 7.40cm x 0.20cm |
