Type: Tsuba Material: Iron with gold and silver inlay Estimated Age: Late Edo period (19th century) Mass: 54.9 g Signature: Unsigned
This elegant mokko-gata (quatrefoil) iron tsuba features a delicate design of plum blossoms in bloom, rendered in fine gold and silver inlay. The motif of plum blossoms, or ume, symbolizes perseverance and renewal; an enduring flower that blooms even in winter, heralding spring. Its sparse, refined placement across the plate creates a sense of quiet balance, typical of late Edo aesthetics emphasizing subtlety and restraint.
The surface has a pleasingly textured surface, offering a soft matte sheen that enhances the small metallic inlays. Gold and silver dots mark buds, while fine stems and petals are in high relief in the iron, delicately carved. The iron has matured to a deep, even patina with a natural gloss from age and handling.
