Details
A SHINGEN STYLE TSUBA
EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1700)

The oval plate has an iron core and a web, covered with a brass plate decorated with a star-hammered surface. The rim area is woven wire of iron and brass in a basketweave pattern. The crosstie wires are copper. The tsuba has a brass rim cover that is carved with a rope pattern--height 8.1cm., width 7.8cm., thickness 3.5mm.

Lot Essay

This style of tsuba has come to be called Shingen by virtue of the woven wire pattern. In this example the iron core seems to be of great age and the use of iron wire is far earlier than this same style with shakudo wire in place of the iron.

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