Antique iron Japanese tsuba with two bubble design
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1400-1800 AD
This is a large, genuine antique iron tsuba, or Japanese sword guard, designed for use with a katana. Measuring 67 mm by 68 mm and weighing 82.59 g, the piece features a distinct design motif depicting two bubbles.
The tsuba includes a nakago-hitsu (blade hole) measuring 29 mm by 7 mm and a kozuka-hitsu (aperture for a utility knife) measuring 18.5 mm by 9 mm. A key technical feature of this specimen is the presence of remnants of sekigane, which are soft metal inserts—typically copper—fitted into the nakago-hitsu. These inserts served as a crucial cushioning material, allowing the tsuba to be attached securely to the sword blade without causing damage to the iron surface through direct metal-on-metal contact.
The object shows age-related characteristics consistent with its classification as a authentic samurai-era component, serving both a functional purpose in weapon mounting and an aesthetic role as part of the sword's furniture.
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
- Weight
- 82.59 g
- Material
- iron
- Dimensions
- 67 mm x 68 mm
Technical characteristics
- Features
- sekigane soft metal inserts
- Kozuka hitsu dimensions
- 18.5 mm x 9 mm
- Nakago hitsu dimensions
- 29 mm x 7 mm
Design
- Motif
- two bubbles design
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.