A FINE IRON AND SHIBUICHI SUKASHI TSUBA IN THE FORM OF AN AOI MON
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
18th-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A FINE IRON AND SHIBUICHI SUKASHI TSUBA IN THE FORM OF AN AOI MON Unsigned Japan, 18th-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of marugata shape with a kozuka hitsu-ana, the nakago hitsu-ana with suaka (copper) sekigane.
Skillfully worked in yo-sukashi and neatly detailed with fine incision work to depict three aoi leaves pointing inwards enclosed by an iron ring. The Tokugawa's clan symbol, known in Japanese as Mitsuba Aoi or "triple hollyhock" (although commonly but mistakenly identified as hollyhock, the aoi actually belongs to the birthwort family and translates as "wild ginger"—Asarum), is a readily recognized icon symbolizing in equal parts the Tokugawa clan and the last shogunate.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material (listing wording)
- IRON AND SHIBUICHI
- Dimensions or weight (listing wording)
- HEIGHT 8.1 cm, LENGTH 7.9 cm WEIGHT 170 g
Identification
- Source note
- Auction-house description published on Invaluable. Attribution and measurements are the auction house’s statements about the photographed example; independent type authentication remains research required.
- Listing object ID
- 205635604
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Independent confirmation of type attribution and auction-house statements remains research required.