CHOSHU TOMOTSUNE

TSUKI NI KO-MORI (MOON AND BAT) MOTIF

SIZE: 7.62 X 7.62cm

Mei obverse: Choshu Hagi Ju Tomotsune saku

Large, iron Choshu Tsuba done in sukadashi bori. The motif is known as; Tsuki Ni Ko-Mori (Bats and Moon).

The Choshu school of tsubako was the largest of all schools and was formed sometime in the early 1600’s.  The Nakai Ke was formed by Tomotsune around the mid Edo era, and their ke survived up to the mid 1800’s. The jigane is well forged as is typical for later Edo Choshu work, and the patina is a rich black, which appears molten.