A fine shibuichi tsuba

Description:

Japan, signed Issendô Joi, mid Edo period, 18th c.
7,7 x 7,1 x 0,45 cm
Tate-maru-gata. Shibuichi, on migaki- ground niku-bori and sukidashi-bori in copper, silver, gold and shakudo, shakudo inlay in the hitsu-ana. The front depicting a manzai - dancer with saîzo, the reverse with festive decoration and with inscription.
Reverse: festive decorations with inscription
During the first half of the 18th century Issando Joi (1701) established the style of shishiai-bori, which meens a deeper engraving, below the level of the ground. He also founded the Joi school, which was named after him. Later this technique was adopted by several members of the Sekijoken group of the Mito school. The term "manzai" means 10.000 years, and is used as a greeting of the New Year's Day. It has been adopted for the dancers moving along the streets in groups of two, to the saizo's drum music on New Year's Day - From an old German private collection, published in Günther Heckmann, 'Tsuba', H.U.B Verlag, Nürtingen, 1995, T 77, former Bockley collection