The thick, iron plate is pierced to resemble the inside of two overlapping clam shell halves. The openwork areas to the right and left of the central opening are the hinge parts of the shell. The hitsu-ana have shakudo plugs--height 7.8cm., width 7.6cm., thickness 6.5mm.
Lot Essay
This is a Kamiyoshi school example, the marks at the top and bottom of the central opening are unidentified, but it was made about the time of Fukanobu and Rakuju (circa 1825-1875).
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Japanese Swords & Sword Fittings from col Dr Walter Ames