Japanese Edo period iron tsuba with gold hira zogan samurai motif
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Japon période Edo (1603-1868)
This Japanese tsuba, or sword guard, dates to the Edo period (1603-1868). It is executed in a nagamaru-gata (oval) shape and crafted from iron. The surface features intricate decoration created using the hira zogan technique, a form of flat metal inlay where gold is embedded flush into the base material.
The design depicts a narrative scene featuring a samurai figure in the act of setting a boat on fire, set against stylized waves. The craftsmanship highlights the refined aesthetic and technical skill characteristic of samurai sword fittings during the Edo period. The tsuba measures 6.8 cm by 6.6 cm. Such objects served as both functional hand guards for Japanese swords and as highly expressive decorative elements for the samurai class, often displaying historical or mythological themes.
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
- Shape
- nagamaru-gata (oval)
- Material
- iron with gold inlay
- Dimensions
- 6.8 x 6.6 cm
Technical characteristics
- Decoration technique
- hira zogan
Design
- Motif
- samurai igniting a boat
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.