Type: Tsuba Material: Iron Estimated Age: Late Edo period (19th century) Signature: Unsigned Mass: 108.3 g
This elegant mokko-gata (lobed) iron tsuba features an openwork (sukashi) design of folding fans (ōgi) and circular punching. The fan, a symbol of prosperity, high culture, and renewal, was often used by the samurai class as a sign of refinement and social grace. The interplay of geometric fan ribs with soft shaping gives the guard a rhythmic visual flow, balancing austerity with motion.
The tsuba is forged from iron, showing a pleasing deep brown-black surface with textured punched sections and smooth relief areas that alternate for visual contrast. The sukashi carving is clean and confident, particularly in the delicate fan ribs that remain sharp and intact. The seppa-dai and nakago-ana are well-defined, showing traces of hand adjustment for fit. The plate thickness and even forging suggest a piece intended for use, not purely decoration. Condition overall is very good, with light wear, a few shallow surface marks, and minor oxidation typical for its age. The iron’s surface shows a fine, tight grain with subtle luster when caught by light at an angle.
In style, this tsuba is reminiscent of the Kyo-sukashi or Owari schools, both known for their preference for symmetrical mokko-gata forms and refined openwork motifs inspired by courtly and natural themes. The bold negative space, clear geometry, and balance of open and solid elements all suggest late Edo taste, when sword guards became expressions of aesthetic refinement as much as martial identity.
