Higo Hayashi Sukashi Pine Tsuba
TS0348
An excellent Higo Hayashi tsuba from the late Edo period. 8.21 cm x 7.76 cm x 4.7 mm. Excellent iron with tekotsu and a lyrical sukashi of a pine. In a custom fitted box with NBTHK Hozon Kanteisho. $2,000
The four schools of Higo were headed by Hirata Hikozo, Hayashi Matashichi, Shimizu Jingo, and Nishigaki Kanshiro, all of whom were under the patronage and protection of the Hosokawa Daimyo, Tadaoki. Hayashi Matashichi was the grandson of Shigenobu, a gunsmith in early life but in his later years turned to making tsuba. His son, Seibei Tomoshige was a retainer to Kato Kiyomasa, a gunsmith, also made tsuba in his later years. Matashichi was trained both as a gunsmith and tsubashi. Kato Kiyomasa died in Keicho 16, (1611) and in Kanei 9 (1632) his son, Tadahiro was dismissed from Kumamoto castle and sent to Shonai. He was replaced at Kumamoto by Hosoawa Tadatoshi.
Shodai - Matashichi 1613 -1699 Nidai - Tohei 1667 - 1744 Sandai - Tohachi (also called Shigeyoshi, Shigefusa, Shigekata, and Fusayoshi) 1723 -1791 Yondai - Heizo (also called Shigetsugu) 1744 - 1784 Godai - Matahei (also called Shigehisa, Shigeyuki, Minamoto Yasuyuki, and Katsuyuki) 1771 - 1823 Rokudai - Matahachi ? - 1840 Nanadai - Tohichi ? - 1874 Hachidai - Momoo (unfortunately nothing is known about the eighth generation)
Ref. Haynes Catalog June 10, 1984
