A shakudo tsuba in "guri-bori" style

Description:

Japan, únsigned, mid Edo period, end of the 18th c.
7.4 x 6.8 x 0.43 cm
Mokko-gata. Shakudo, in migaki-ground guri-bori in shakudo and suaka. Scrolls. Maru-mimi.
From an old German private collection, published in: Günther Heckmann, ‘Tsuba’. H.U.B Verlag, Nürtingen, 1995, T 91
In imitation of the lacquer technique with the same name of "guri-bori", which had been developed in China during the 13th century, the object illustrated presents numerous layers of different coloured alloys, laid one on top of the other. After engraving, these layers appear as single fine lines. Objects made in this technique can hardly be classified, but the Takahashi family in Edo are said to have worked extensively in this field