A CANTON STYLE TSUBA

Details

A CANTON STYLE TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1600)

The brass plate is shaped as four dragons with their heads meeting at the center of each side, a pearl placed between them. An animal mask is placed at the top and the bottom. The web of the plate is pierced and carved with interlocking scroll forms and two entwined dragons. The nakago has a square opening which may indicate that it was designed to be mounted on a polearm--height 7.8cm., width 7.2cm., thickness 5.75mm.

Lot Essay

This type of tsuba is commonly known in the West as a Namban tsuba. There is a similarity between its design and that of Portuguese cup hilt rapier guards of the 16th and 17th century. In fact, the design is derived from Ming dynasty carved metal work which was imported into Nagasaki. This is a very early example of the type.