Type: Tsuba Material: Iron Estimated Age: Early to Mid Edo period (17th–18th century) Signature: Unsigned Mass: 105.3 g
This iron tsuba features a quiet, contemplative design of bamboo stalks and leaves carved in low relief. The motif of bamboo (take) symbolizes resilience, humility, and the strength to bend without breaking; qualities admired by the samurai class. Despite the simplicity of the subject, the artist has achieved an expressive balance between empty space and subtle modeling, evoking the quiet strength of nature in line with Zen-inspired aesthetics.
The bamboo leaves are rendered with deliberate economy, using fine chisel work to define the lines against a subdued ground. The tsuba retains a deep, stable patina ranging from brown-black to soft gray in highlights. Areas of light surface corrosion and pitting are visible, particularly near the rim and around the kogai-ana, consistent with age and use.
