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"Iron base, long round shape, square ears, small meat, early Edo period.
Mei: Sadahiro. Design of Kukurizaru. Early Edo period.
Sadahiro is a tsuba craftsman from Owari, and it is said that there are several generations of him. At that time, in Kiyosu, Owari Province, there were three famous Nobuie, Yamayoshi and Hoan, who were making tsuba. Sadahiro's works have many styles in common with Yamayoshi and Hoan, and it is clear that they made tsuba while influencing each other in the same era. The first generation of Yamayoshi and Hoan are fairly clear when they were active, and it is possible to imagine that they both started making tsuba around the same time, around the Keicho era. In addition, Nobuie with the bold inscription in his later years also made a tsuba that is very similar to Sadahiro's. This tsuba is long and round, with a slight reduction in thickness from the edge to the cutting edge, and has a knotted monkey pattern. The size, shape, and low-mid-low construction with changes made by the firing process are all in common with Nobuie with the bold inscription. It is easy to imagine the influence and relationship between Sadahiro and Nobuie. Also, a concentric concave surface is made on the flat ground, and a string-like chisel is used to encircle it, creating a pattern. This kind of work was not seen in Nobuie or Yamayoshi, and is thought to have been an original idea of Sadahiro. Sadahiro is a forgotten figure and is not highly regarded today, but since a relatively large number of his works remain, he is believed to have been a popular artist at the time, on a par with Nobuie, Yamayoshi, and Hoan." (Haynes & Long)
86.5mm x 80.4mm x 5.2mm (edge 3.1mm) |
