Type: Tsuba Material: Iron with gold inlay Signature: Unsigned Mass: 147.0 g
This iron tsuba features a naturalistic design of asagao (morning glory) vines climbing along the rim and curling inward toward the central aperture. The morning glory motif, a favorite of Edo-period artisans, symbolizes fleeting beauty and the transience of life; an idea deeply rooted in both Japanese aesthetics and samurai philosophy. The carving is composed with grace and subtle motion, the tendrils and blossoms rendered in soft relief and accented with small points of gold inlay representing flower centers and dew.
The guard is forged from dense iron with a textured surface and well-developed patina ranging from dark brown to charcoal black. The carving is done in sukidashi-bori (shallow relief), giving the vines a gentle presence rather than dramatic contrast. The gold details appear to be true inlay (zōgan) rather than surface gilding, and they remain well-seated despite light wear.
