Type: Tsuba Material: Iron Mass: 95.5 g Signature: Unsigned
A round (maru-gata) iron tsuba featuring openwork (sukashi) designs of plum blossoms (ume). Each blossom is cut cleanly through the plate with a slightly irregular, hand-forged charm, giving the piece an organic balance. The ume flower, a classic Japanese motif, symbolizes perseverance, purity, and renewal, blooming even in the cold of late winter. Its use in sword fittings carries the poetic association of resilience through adversity, fitting for a samurai’s ethos.
The iron plate has a rich, dark patina, showing subtle hammer texture beneath the surface oxidation. There are faint traces of wear around the nakago-ana, suggesting it was once mounted, though the overall condition is solid and stable. The openwork is deep and deliberate, giving the tsuba both visual lightness and strength. The craftsmanship is functional yet confident, representing unpretentious artistry.
