The design of this Tsuba is called Mitsu-ura (Fish net). The fine mesh of the net covers the whole Tsuba and is minutely carved into the iron. The rim is rather wide giving this piece a very strong or bold appearance. The size of the Hitsuana differs as the Kozuka Hitsu is much larger than the Kogai Hitsu. We can see remnants of old lacquer mixed in the dark brown patina of this Tsuba.
This is a very fine example of a Higo Tsuba. The Mitsu-ura was a popular design among Higo schools and we can see such Tsuba by Shimizu and Nishigaki as well (see ‘Works of Kanshiro Nishigaki’ by Ito Mitsuru No. 25). Comparing this work to a similar Tsuba by the second generation Hayashi Shigemitsu (see ‘Early Japanese Sword Guards Sukashi Tsuba’ by Sasano Masayuki No. 183) we can see that the net is not as symmetric and moves along the round shape of the Tsuba, also the edges are not as rounded as in the work by Shigemitsu. We would assume that this Tsuba was made by a later master or even might have been made by a master from the Nishigaki school.
Taking into consideration the difficulty of cutting iron it must have taken the craftsman several weeks just to cut the motif into the plate which makes this piece even more astonishing.
The NBTHK Hozon Kanteisho attributes this work to Hayashi (林).
A great addition to a Sukashi and Higo Tsuba collection.
Find examples of similar works by Hayashi and Shimizu here: www.tsuba.info/higo
H: 76mm
W: 72mm
R: 5mm
SD: 6mm
