-Tōsōgu, 52nd Session — Designated October 12, 2006
, : Akasaka Tadamasa, 2nd generation (二代赤坂忠正)
Measurements Height (): 8.0 cm Width (): 7.8 cm Rim thickness (mimi): 0.7 cm
Description Form: (vertical round form) Material: iron, polished ground (tetsu ) Construction: openwork with combined positive/negative treatment (in’-) Design: “Musashino” scene (Musashino-zu): luxuriant (pampas grass) leaves bearing dew, with the moon Decoration: openwork () Rim: rounded rim () : two (ryō-hitsu) Signature:
Artisan Akasaka school; attributed to Akasaka Tadamasa, 2nd generation (Nidai Akasaka Tadamasa).
Era Early period.
Explanation The Akasaka -makers are said to have been a group that移 moved from Kyoto in the early period; because they resided at Akasaka in , they came to be known by this name. Among iron openwork () makers, they are renowned alongside those of Kyōto, Owari, and . Furthermore, the first three generations of the school in the early period are all unsigned.
This work is a appraised as Nidai Akasaka Tadamasa. It renders in openwork the so-called “Musashino” design, placing dew upon thickly growing leaves and adding the moon. Within the outline, the pampas grass and dew are treated as ground openwork, while at the left edge a crescent moon is expressed as negative openwork—an adroit composition employing the interplay of positive and negative (in’). The carving shows a refined, crisp contour, with no needless accumulation of metal.
The forging of the iron and the color of the patina are also exceptionally fine. Features such as the pointed upper and the noticeably small -ana in comparison to the -ana clearly display points of appreciation shared with the work of the first generation.
