Design of Broken Fan

The term Owari sukashi was not used in earlier periods, but was introduced in the early modern era when Akiyama Kyūsaku Ou undertook the classification and organization of sukashi tsuba. Although it remains uncertain whether these works were actually produced in Owari, the yakite technique and the presence of tekkotsu closely resemble those found in the works of Owari-associated masters such as Yamakichibei, Hōan, and Sadahiro, and they have therefore been regarded as their predecessors.
Owari sukashi tsuba of the Muromachi period are typically characterized by a round iron form with a slightly concave center, kaku-mimi ko-niku (in between square and around-rim), and bold, largely symmetrical sukashi designs, often finished with tsuchime (hammer marks) surface incorporating visible tekkotsu.
This tsuba conveys such Owari traditions; however, the yabure-ōgi (broken fan) openwork is executed with particular care and refinement, and possesses a sense of movement and elegance more akin to the aesthetic of Shōami. At the same time, the finely controlled tsuchime, which at first glance appears almost like a polished surface, is gentle in character, while the dark, lustrous iron tone and the symmetrical composition clearly reflect the Owari tradition.
With the improvements in transportation during the Momoyama period, regional styles became more widely disseminated, and designs of this kind are thought to have emerged in that context. The economical composition, free of superfluous elements, together with the accomplished technique, marks this piece as a masterwork of Owari sukashi from this period.