Hosho Sadamitsu

貞光

3 ranked works

Nothing by Sadamitsu on the market right now — follow to hear when one appears.

JūyōVol. 33, No. 26 · Tantō

Overview

Sadamitsu of the Hosho school was a smith of Yamato Province based in Takaichi District, transmitted as a son of Hosho Sadayoshi. He is traditionally regarded as having been active around the Bunna era (1352-1356) of the period, though reference works such as the Kokon Meizukushi Taizen and Kosei vary in identifying his parentage -- some naming Sadayoshi, others Sadakiyo. A smith of the same name is also recorded around the Eiwa era. Like all Hosho smiths, Sadamitsu shares the character "" as the common tsuji element in his name, alongside such able contemporaries as Sadamune, Sadayoshi, Sadakiyo, and Sadaoki.

The Hosho school is recognized as displaying the most conspicuous stylistic identity among the five Yamato traditions. Sadamitsu's workmanship faithfully embodies this character: the reveals an overall with a -tendency, with fine thickly adhering and entering frequently. Along the grain appear long stretches of . The is -based, sometimes with an extremely shallow flavor, mixed with and ; along the appear , , and , while adheres and fine and are seen. The characteristically shows with vigorous . The is finished with the hallmark file marks of the Hosho group, and signatures frequently record the place of residence as "Yamato Province."

Signed works by Sadamitsu are rare and therefore precious. The consistently observes that both and in his pieces "inherit and clearly display the distinctive tradition of the Hosho group," while also recognizing his individual technical skill as readily appreciable from the quality of his workmanship. One in with construction, bearing of hata-, , and , is singled out as extremely valuable reference material. His work is further distinguished by the exceptional preservation that certain pieces retain, with both and described as being in especially good condition.

Historical importance

Where Sadamitsu stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.

随一
Foremost
屈指
Leading
有数
Major
著名
Notable

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Designations

Kokuhō—
Jūyō Bunkazai—
Jūyō Bijutsuhin—
Gyobutsu—
Tokubetsu Jūyō—
Jūyō Tōken3

Elite Standing

Provenance

Lineage

TeacherSadayoshi
Sadamitsu

Other artisans of the Hosho school

  1. 1.Sadayoshi貞吉10designated
  2. 2.Sadakiyo貞清9designated
  3. 3.Sadaoki貞興7designated
  4. 4.Sadamune貞宗1designated
  5. 5.Sadatsugu貞繼2designated

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