A Hirata Hikozo Tsuba

The present piece is an amazing example from the early Edo Higo Kinko works by Hirata Hikozo.

This Hirata Hikozo Tsuba is made in a kind of lentil shape where the niku thins out towards the rim and towards the seppa dai. The Hitsu ana are large and in the form of Suhama (the leaves of the liver leaf plant) which is also the form of the Suhama family crest which was used by the Oda clan and others. The shape originally goes back to the form of a island shaped sandbar formed by the waves on a beach. The Suaka which this piece was made from exhibits a beautiful dark reddish brown patina which was probably lacquered to create dark areas and gives the Tsuba its very characteristic aesthetic appeal. The whole plate is surrounded by a thin Shakudo rim. It is also interesting to note that this piece is slightly wider than it is high.

This Tsuba is published prominently as a work by the Second Hirata master in ‘Works of Hirata and Shimizu’ of the three books on Higo Kinko works by Ito Mitsuru. The Second Hirata Hikozo Master who’s name was Shozaburo was mainly active in the early edo period from 1635, when he took over the family workshop from his father the first Hirata master and until he passed away in 1686. As favored by the Hosokawa daimyo of Higo, he followed his father’s style of producing works which carry the subtle beauty of Wabi-Sabi, the aesthetic stream appreciating the wear of used and aged items.

The piece is unsigned and attributed to the Hirata masters by the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate.

Comes with a custom made high quality Kiri wooden box.