Nihonto.com is very pleased to offer this rare and unusual Umetada school tsuba by the artist Kataoka Genji. This tsuba is signed Umetada Myôju (no) Deshi Kataoka Genji Saku (梅忠明寿弟子片岡源二作). This is a an extremely large round iron tsuba that measures a full 5.5 inches or 14 cm. The iron plate is well forged and thin measuring less than 1/8 inch (.118 inch) or 0.3 cm at the nakago ana and 3/16 inches or 0.47 cm at the raised mimi (edge).
This tsuba is exquisitely inlaid with copper plum trees and large brass plum blossoms. The blossoms are beautifully carved and they have a “roundness” and depth to them that gives the appearance of them just falling onto the tsuba and are waiting to be blown away by the wind.
This tsuba probably dates to the 18th century and was made by one of the artists of the Umetada school by the name of Kataoka Genji. Usually we just find tsuba of this school with the signature of simply Umetada, but this tsuba is so impressive that the artist wanted to “shout-out” his name and lineage for all to know. Because of the size, I would venture to say that it was made for dedication to a temple or for a very large polearm.
Despite its age, it is in wonderful condition with remnants of its original lacquer. It was awarded Tokubetsu Hozon Kodogu by the NBTHK and it comes in a specially made fitted wooden box.
SOLD
