Type: Tsuba Material: Iron with inlaid detail Estimated Age: Early to Mid Edo period (17th–18th century) Mass: 57.6 g Signature: Unsigned
A finely crafted maru-gata (round) sukashi tsuba featuring an openwork design of circular and quatrefoil-like forms radiating from a central oval seppa-dai. The visual structure of the guard is symmetrical and geometric, with an interplay of positive and negative space typical of early Edo ironwork. Within the lower section of the plate, the kogatana-ana is filled in with a soft metal. The lightness and open patterning give this tsuba a refined, balanced presence suited for both aesthetic appreciation and practical use.
The iron shows a rich, dark brown patina, slightly granular in texture, consistent with age and exposure. The openwork is well defined with smooth, deliberate edges, and the nakago-ana shows signs of use, with minor wear visible around the aperture and evidence of copper sekigane inserts—one of which appears partially lost or removed. Traces of a little gold nunome work remain, but are mostly gone.
