Tsuba with Fish, Shells and Mask

Description This tsuba shows four separate motifs by four individual artists. Each artist signed his own name on a small plaque near the motif he made. This is a typical style for the Arikawa family from Mito. On the front are a blow fish (signed by Kiyomasa), a mask used in comedic performances (signed by Sanemasa), and sea shells (with an illegible signature). On the reverse is another small grouping of shells (signed by Naoharu). The artists on this tsuba are obscure and may be minor students of the Arikawa school.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquistion unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions [Signature] 清正; [Translation] Kiyomasa; [Signature] 真正; [Translation] Sanemasa; [Signature] 友[ ] ; [Translation] Tomo[unread]; [Signature] 直春; [Translation] Naoharu

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters