This tsuba is attributed to the second master Tadamasa of the Akasaka school. It features a sukashi motif of reeds and exhibits characteristic traits such as a strong maru mimi, a protruded seppadai, and well-produced iron. This piece is certified as NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon.
NihontoWatchmei · Akasaka · Edo
Akasaka Tadamasa
Edo
Musashi
Signed
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba · Nagato · around 1624-1658
1 piece on the market now
Tadamasa, called Shozaemon, is the founding hand of the Akasaka school of iron openwork tsuba, a line said in the records to have moved from Kyoto to the Akasaka district of Edo at the start of the Edo period and to have flourished there to the end of the bakufu. He is named with the makers of Kyoto, Owari and Higo as one of the celebrated workers of the pierced iron guard. The first three generations, the so-called old Akasaka or upper three generations (1st Tadamasa, 2nd Tadamasa, 3rd Tadatora), are all unsigned; in-mei work begins only with the fourth generation Tadatoki around Genroku, with the signature Bushu-ju Akasaka Hikojuro Tadatoki saku, and the legitimate line thereafter took the name Tadatoki to the ninth generation. The name Tadamasa was carried by both a first and a second generation, both called Shozaemon; by a genealogy the descendant Tadatoki submitted to the bakufu in the Bunsei era, the first Tadamasa died in Meireki 3 (1657) and the second in Enpo 5 (1677). All accepted work of these upper generations is unsigned, so attribution rests on the iron, the openwork composition and a small set of construction features.
Where Tadamasa 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.
Select a lens to see how it's measured.
Iron-tsuba · Edo
Phase: Ko-Akasaka古赤坂· 1624–1700
76 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadamasa忠正 | 1624-1658 | 7 |
| Tadashige忠重 | 1730-1816 | 5 |
| Tadatoki忠時 | 1704-1764 | 0 |
| Juchiku/Toshitake寿竹 | — | 0 |
| Tadanori忠則 | 1730-1780 | 0 |
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns accepted within 7 days of receipt (JP terms; EN page states 3 days). Customer must contact within the window and return at own cost. Refund after items confirmed in original condition; repair fees charged if damage occurs.
This tsuba is attributed to the second master Tadamasa of the Akasaka school. It features a sukashi motif of reeds and exhibits characteristic traits such as a strong maru mimi, a protruded seppadai, and well-produced iron. This piece is certified as NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon.
NihontoWatchmei · Akasaka · Edo
Akasaka Tadamasa
Edo
Musashi
Signed
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba · Nagato · around 1624-1658
1 piece on the market now
Tadamasa, called Shozaemon, is the founding hand of the Akasaka school of iron openwork tsuba, a line said in the records to have moved from Kyoto to the Akasaka district of Edo at the start of the Edo period and to have flourished there to the end of the bakufu. He is named with the makers of Kyoto, Owari and Higo as one of the celebrated workers of the pierced iron guard. The first three generations, the so-called old Akasaka or upper three generations (1st Tadamasa, 2nd Tadamasa, 3rd Tadatora), are all unsigned; in-mei work begins only with the fourth generation Tadatoki around Genroku, with the signature Bushu-ju Akasaka Hikojuro Tadatoki saku, and the legitimate line thereafter took the name Tadatoki to the ninth generation. The name Tadamasa was carried by both a first and a second generation, both called Shozaemon; by a genealogy the descendant Tadatoki submitted to the bakufu in the Bunsei era, the first Tadamasa died in Meireki 3 (1657) and the second in Enpo 5 (1677). All accepted work of these upper generations is unsigned, so attribution rests on the iron, the openwork composition and a small set of construction features.
Where Tadamasa 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.
Select a lens to see how it's measured.
Iron-tsuba · Edo
Phase: Ko-Akasaka古赤坂· 1624–1700
76 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadamasa忠正 | 1624-1658 | 7 |
| Tadashige忠重 | 1730-1816 | 5 |
| Tadatoki忠時 | 1704-1764 | 0 |
| Juchiku/Toshitake寿竹 | — | 0 |
| Tadanori忠則 | 1730-1780 | 0 |
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns accepted within 7 days of receipt (JP terms; EN page states 3 days). Customer must contact within the window and return at own cost. Refund after items confirmed in original condition; repair fees charged if damage occurs.
