TSUNESHIGE: A FINE SENTOKU TSUBA DEPICTING ARIWARA NO NARIHIRABy Nara Tsuneshige, signed TsuneshigeJapan, Nara school, second half of 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Heckmann, Günther (1995) Tsuba, no. T79.The sentoku tsuba of nade-kakugata shape, with a kozuka hitsu-ana, depicting the poet Ariwara no Narihira on horseback by the Tamagawa River, below a pine tree, the image rendered partially in sunken relief and decorated with iro-e takazogan of gold, silver, and copper. Signed to the back TSUNESHIGE.HEIGHT 7.3 cm, LENGTH 6.7 cmWEIGHT 157 gCondition: Excellent condition with minor typical wear.The artist is listed in the Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on p. 2125 (H 10905.0) and was trained by Nara Shigetsugu (H 08508.0).Ariwara no Narihara (825-880) was one of the six great poets of Japan, the “Rokkasen”. After an intrigue at court, he went into exile. He is usually depicted on his journey, either when riding through Sugura on his way to Azukama, or along the river Tamagawa in Yamashiro as in the present piece.