An Early Iron Tsuba

NARA PERIOD (8TH CENTURY)

細節

An Early Iron Tsuba
Nara period (8th century)
Oval shaped and slightly pointed at the base and pierced with six trapezoidal apertures
4 1/8in. (10.3cm.) long
With Tokubetsu kicho kodogu (Sword fitting particularly worthy of preserving) certificate issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), dated 1997.9.14.
With a wood storage box with inscription stating this tsuba was excavated at the Shindo tomb, dated 1976.8 and signed Kunzan (Homma Junji) and with kao.

拍品專文

Early sword fittings were almost always oval with a pointed base. The carved apertures reduced the overall weight of the tsuba but did not take away from its efficacy as a guard for the hand. These openings represent the earliest form of decoration added to sword guards.