A JAPANESE IRON KO-SHOAMI TSUBA

A JAPANESE IRON KO-SHOAMI TSUBA

MUROMACHI PERIOD, 16TH CENTURY

The circular plate embellished with an abstract design of rectangular shapes in openwork (sukashi), with a band of key fret following the rim and scrolling tendrils in the rectangular apertures, the arabesque decoration rendered in gold inlays (zogan), unsigned, with Hozon Tosogu (Sword fitting Worthy of Preservation) certificate no.462301 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (The Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), dated 1st March 2011, in a kiri box, 9cm. (3)

Provenance: from a European private collection.

PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Artists belonging to the Shoami School worked for the Bakufu, the military government, during the late Muromachi Period (1333-1573). The first Ko-Shoami style of tsuba appeared then and was produced until the end of the Momoyama period (1568-1600), and they don't bear signatures. By the end of the 16th century, the Ko-Shoami School split into different groups. Artists moved to new areas and founded independent schools with their own characteristics.