In Search of Katsuhira's Tiger -- An Utsushi Tsuba

[ThePepperSkull]

Reading backlogs of threads here had gotten me really interested in metal work and the complexities therein. It began with reading about Suasa, then looking at Battara's wonderful restoration work, then onto reading about different cultures and their metalworking traditions until I stumbled upon this.

The metalwork in this short documentary is just amazing. mixing metals, inlaying metals, mixing more metals for further inlay, chisel chisel chisel, gold gilding. wow. Blown away.

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMj7o6AwnM

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM0VnL30rDc

This definitely makes me apprecite the work put into the fittings in addition to the blades of the pieces I find myself taking care of.

[laEspadaAncha]

Following the edict by the Emperor Meiji in 1876 outlawing the carrying of swords by the Samurai class, many of these artisans (like Katsuhira) migrated to the decorative arts, and began producing purely decorative metalware items, like vases or okimono, some of which are every bit as exquisite as this tsuba. :)

Thanks for posting this, TPS...

[VANDOO]

THANKS FOR THE LINKS. I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THE JAPANESE METAL WORK TO BE REMARKABLE BUT HAVE NEVER SEEN HOW IT WAS DONE. AFTER VIEWING THESE VIDEOS I SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT REALLY IS AND APPRECIATE SUCH WORK EVEN MORE. :)

[lemmythesmith]

Hi Guys, I've seen the utsushi and the original other half of the pair together "in the flesh" and you cannot tell that they are by different artists, they are stunning.

Regards, Graham.

[asomotif]

Nice to see that there are artists around who can still (re)create such masterpieces. :)