TAKACHIKA: A SMALL SHIBUICHI TSUBA WITH A CARP

TSUCHIYA TAKACHIKA: A SMALL SHAKUDO AND GOLD-INLAID SHIBUICHI TSUBA WITH A LEAPING CARP
By Tsuchiya Takachika, signed Tsuchiya Takachika with kakihan
Japan, dated 1921, Taisho period (1912-1926)

Of rounded rectangular form with a raised rim, the carp with gold-inlaid eye and neatly incised scales leaping over seaweed finely carved in low relief and gold-inlaid corals, the other side with lotus leaves, dew drops inlaid with gold and silver, and a budding lotus flower inlaid with gold. One side with the minutely chiseled signature TSUCHIYA TAKACHIKA with a kakihan, and the other with the dating Kanoto-tori yogetsu hi [A day in the 10th month, in the year of Kanoto-tori (Taisho 10, 1921)].

HEIGHT 4.9 cm, WIDTH 4 cm
WEIGHT 61.2 g

Condition: Very good condition with only minor surface wear and expected traces of use.
Provenance: French private collection.

Takachika's original family name was Kamata. He studied under the 6th generation Tsuchiya school master Tsuchiya Yasuchika (Masachika) and was permitted to use the Tsuchiya family name. Tsuchiya Takachika's grandfather was an appraiser of swords and his father made sword fittings; there are extant dated works from Meiji 2 (1869) and Meiji 31 (1898). Tsuchiya Takachika is listed in Toso Kinko Jiten by Takeshi Wakayama, p. 76.