Japanese Shakudo Nanako Tsuba with geese, quails and autumn plants by Wada Masatatsu
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century, Edo period
This fine Japanese tsuba, or sword guard, dates to the 19th century Edo period. It is crafted from shakudo, an alloy of copper and gold that develops a dark patina, and features a nanako stippled ground.
The tsuba is designed in the mokkogata (lobed) form and incorporates both a kozuka and a kogai hitsu ana. The decoration utilizes iro-e takazogan, a technique involving high-relief, colored metal inlays to create detailed motifs. The obverse depicts a pastoral scene of three geese in flight above autumn plants, alongside two quails situated near a winding stream. The reverse of the tsuba is ornamented with two additional gold-inlaid birds.
The piece is signed by the artist Wada Masatatsu, also known as Wada Isshin (1814-1882), a noted maker of sword fittings who studied under Fujiki Kyubi and Goto Ichijo. The object measures 7.9 cm in height and 7.4 cm in length, with a total weight of 134.4 grams.
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
- Height
- 7.9 cm
- Length
- 7.4 cm
- Weight
- 134.4 g
- Material
- shakudo
Technical characteristics
- Form
- mokkogata
- Openings
- kozuka hitsu ana, kogai hitsu ana
- Decoration technique
- nanako, iro-e takazogan
Design
- Motifs
- geese, quails, autumn plants, stream
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
- Wada Masatatsu
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.