Japanese Shôwa-era copper and brass Katana Tsuba signed Uchida Emyo
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Shôwa-Zeit (1926–1989)
This Japanese tsuba, or sword guard, dates to the Shôwa period (1926–1989). It features a rounded rectangular form constructed from two contrasting non-ferrous metal alloys: copper and brass.
The obverse (omote) side is executed in copper, showcasing a finely crafted high relief depicting a deity of scholarship observing a scholar by the light of a full moon. The background, known as ji, is finished in an ishi-me style, providing a stone-like texture. The reverse (ura) side is made of brass and features an engraved pine trunk amidst a mist. The seppa-dai, the central area surrounding the tang opening, bears the signature of the maker, Uchida Emyo.
The piece measures 9.5 cm in height and 9 cm in width. This object serves as an example of Japanese metalwork tradition, combining intricate narrative relief with sophisticated material contrast and surface texturing techniques characteristic of high-quality sword fittings from the twentieth century.
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
- Materials
- copper, brass
- Dimensions
- H 9.5 cm, W 9 cm
Design
- Obverse
- Deity of scholarship observing a scholar by full moon, relief on copper ishi-me background
- Reverse
- Engraved pine trunk in mist, brass
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.
- Maker named in listing
- Uchida Emyo
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.