Saotome Chidori Sukashi Tsuba
TS0258
An exceptional Saotome armorer tsuba of chidori (one thousand bird) design. 8.62 cm x 8.4 cm x 3.5 mm. Wonderful surface tekotsu throughout.
The Saotome were katchushi, who had branched off from the Miochin katchushi during the late Muromachi jidai. Iyenori worked around Tenmon (1532-1555), and the school remained active into shinto times. Their works are generally large, and have a Spartan feel to the design. The forging tends to be a little coarser than those of the Miochin. Their work was highly prized, and Saotome Iyesada was ranked along with Umetada Myoju and Shoami Masanori.
NBTHK Hozon kanteisho. In a custom fitted box. $1,500
