A BISHU INLAID IRON TSUBA

Details

A BISHU INLAID IRON TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1725-1750), SIGNED BISHU TEIKI (?)

The thick, round iron plate is pierced with four apertures at the cardinal points. The plate is decorated with brass and silver inlay flush to the surface depicting scrolling leaves and tendrils. The scroll work is in brass and the leaves are in silver--height and width 7.5cm., thickness 5.5mm.

Provenance

John Harding

Lot Essay

This style of inlaid tsuba is normally associated with Kaga work of the Edo period. The Owari (Bishu) area was famous for its strong iron sukashi work and this tsuba represents a very rare and unusual inlay-decorated type.