AN IRON TSUBA | Christie's

AN IRON TSUBA

Details

AN IRON TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1625)

The round iron plate is carved on the surface with vertical lines. There are five pierced apertures which are formed by interlocking sangaibishi crests. The very high rim has a slightly rounded surface and is inlaid with brass and silver scrolling vine tendrils. Some of this inlay is missing. The hitsu-ana are later and the nakago-ana has new copper sekigane that replace the original large copper plugs--height 8.9cm., width 8.6cm., thickness at center 3mm., at edge 7mm.

Provenance

Christie's, London, October 15 1968, lot 106.

Lot Essay

This unusual tsuba displays characteristics of several schools. The plate is common in Sendai katchushi work, the rim displays the influence of Kaga and Heianjo inlay, and the nakago-ana with areas for copper plugs shows the influence of the first Suruga master, who worked in Bizen circa 1600.