Umetada sharing

[Mantis dude]

Hi all,

 

I know I have been negligent these past few years in sharing and I still have personal reasons for maintaining low profile. But I wanted to share this tsuba that I got early on that always captured my interest, is one of my favorite kinko pieces and I love the patina. The patina might be getting too dark not sure i can really control that? any advice of course is welcome, I think the patina has added more depth to the piece but I assume at some point it will get too dark. but I am mostly just trying to share. Details from my notes are as follows:

Mokkogata Tsuba carved as flower petals that came from Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester collection. The base plate is made of sentoku, a yellow metal alloy consisting of copper, zinc and tin. The plate has a wonderful patina and nice variation in coloring. The mantis and wagon wheels are depicted using inlaid gilt hirozogan. The plate is surrounded by a fukarim made of shakudo which has an amazing smooth feel to it. There is no signature but has been attributed to the Umetada school. I think the kogai-ana has been added later and unfortunately done a little sloppy. It is carved a bit on the mantis and the side closest to the center is chipped, still this is a neat piece. The width is 71mm (2 26/32"), height is 75mm (2 30/32"), at the seppadai is 4mm (5/32") and the mimi is 4.5mm (6/32").

I will also add, picking it up just now, it is dense (heavy) more so than i remembered or would have thought. Any and all comments are appreciated. Hope some enjoy it. Thanks.

 

[raven2]

Hi Ken,

 

I really like it, but I also think the kogai-ana was added afterwards and it is not a good job. Too bad because it really is very nice piece and I understand why you like it so much.

[lotus]

I really like that tsuba as well, thanks for sharing!

[Brian]

Ken,

What a charming depiction of the mantis! I don't think you will see another like that. Definitely a keeper.

 

Brian