Type: Tsuba (sword guard)
Mass: 81.3g
This iron tsuba is of rounded-square form with softly compressed corners, forged in a dense plate and pierced with an openwork design arranged concentrically around the rim. The sukashi elements appear as repeated stylized floral or leaf-like forms radiating inward, creating a rhythmic border that frames the central seppa-dai. The central plate is left relatively solid, with a narrow, elongated nakago-ana flanked by two hitsu-ana of slightly irregular oval form. The iron surface shows a dark, matte brown-black patina with visible granular texture, consistent with age and prolonged handling. The rim is gently rounded and exhibits honest wear, with small pits and softened edges rather than sharp corrosion. A small area of loss or lamination separation is visible at the upper portion of the nakago-ana, and there is additional wear at the lower edge of the nakago-ana where the iron has thinned slightly from use. These areas appear stable and do not compromise the overall integrity of the guard.
