Edo Period iron tsuba with gold inlay and signature
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Edo period, 1603-1868 AD
This antique Japanese tsuba is a sword guard designed for a katana or wakizashi, originating from the middle Edo period, dating to between 200 and 300 years ago.
The piece is crafted primarily from iron and features a distinctive gold-inlaid mark and a running script signature. The tsuba measures 59 mm by 55 mm and features a nakago-ana (center blade opening) measuring 24.5 mm by 7 mm. It also includes a kozuka-ana (opening for a small knife) measuring 15 mm by 8 mm and a kogai-ana (opening for a hairpin-like tool) measuring 14 mm by 8 mm. The presence of sekigane, remnants of soft metal lining the interior of the nakago-ana, indicates that this piece was intended to be fitted to a blade without looseness, serving as a cushioning material to protect the sword steel.
The object weighs 80.50 grams and represents a high-quality example of traditional samurai sword ornamentation, reflecting the functional and aesthetic standards of its era.
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
- 80.50 g
- Material
- iron, gold
- Dimensions
- 59 x 55 mm
Technical characteristics
- Fittings
- sekigane
- Kogai ana
- 14 mm x 8 mm
- Kozuka ana
- 15 mm x 8 mm
- Nakago ana
- 24.5 mm x 7 mm
Design
- Marks
- running script signature, gold inlaid mark
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.