Kawari-gata tsuba in sentoku with suaka and silver inlay, 19th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Edo period (1603-1868), 19th century
This kawari-gata (irregularly shaped) tsuba, or Japanese sword guard, dates to the 19th century Edo period. It is crafted from sentoku, a brass-like alloy, and features a distinctive mimi (rim) that is folded over.
The surface decoration utilizes hira-bori (flat carving) techniques combined with taka-zogan (high-relief inlay) to create a dynamic scene. The imagery depicts birds in flight soaring above tumultuous, stylized waves. The inlays are composed of suaka, a copper-rich alloy, and silver, which provide subtle color contrast against the sentoku base. Measuring approximately 8 by 7 centimeters, the guard features the central nakago-ana (hole for the blade tang).
This example is unsigned and represents a traditional Japanese metalwork style intended for use with a nihonto. The construction demonstrates the integration of relief work and metal inlay characteristic of the period's sword furniture artistry.
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
- Material
- sentoku, suaka, silver
- Dimensions
- 8 x 7 cm
Technical characteristics
- Rim
- folded mimi
- Form
- kawari-gata
Design
- Motifs
- birds in flight, tumultuous waves
- Decoration techniques
- hira-bori, taka-zogan
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.