An iron tsuba attributed to the workshop of Tokushima (Nomura family)

Description:

Japan, Awa-Shoami-school, mid Edo period, end of 18th c.
6,8 x 6,3 x 0,4 cm
Tate-maru-gata. Iron, hira-zôgan in gold and silver, ke-bori, decortaed with a hôo bird, dragon and flowers. Kaku-mimi.
From an old German private collection, published in: Günther Heckmann, ‘Tsuba’. H.U.B Verlag, Nürtingen, 1995, T. 36
Influenced by the artists of the Shoami school, a distinctive stvle developed in the province of Awa, which culminated in extremelv fine and extensive inlays and "hair - engravings". Typical subjects were dragons, the hôo bird, plants and geometric motifs. This special kind of tsuba was produced exclusively in the province of Awa