Type: Tsuba Material: Iron with gold, silver, and copper inlay Period: Late Edo (19th century) Mass: 109.0 g
This richly detailed tsuba depicts two samurai warriors amid a battle scene beneath a flowering plum tree. One warrior, clad in gilt armor and silver accents, stands poised with a fan, while another crouches defensively below, both rendered with remarkable expressiveness. The plum blossoms above, executed in fine silver and gold zōgan, symbolize endurance and renewal, a poignant contrast to the martial scene below.
The iron plate bears a natural, dark-brown patina with light surface undulations, likely the result of intentional hammerwork (tsuchime-ji). The inlay remains well-preserved, showing the maker’s deft control of mixed-metal technique and narrative composition.
This piece reflects the refined narrative style popular among late Edo artisans, merging poetic and heroic imagery within a compact format of symbolic storytelling.
