Ko-Kinko Tsuba with Bamboo and Plum Motif, Momoyama Period
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Momoyama period
This Japanese tsuba, or sword guard, dates to the Momoyama period and serves as a classic example of historic metalwork. Measuring approximately 64 mm in height, 60 mm in width, and 3 mm in thickness, the piece weighs 104 grams.
The design features a decorative motif of bamboo and plum, rendered with bold brushstrokes that emphasize dynamic, rugged beauty rather than precise realism. This stylistic choice is attributed to the unrestrained sensibilities characteristic of the Momoyama era. The surface demonstrates fine craftsmanship, with the bamboo and plum elements accented in gold against the dark metal background. The guard includes a central nakago-ana for the sword blade and a secondary opening, likely for a kozuka.
As a quintessential example of Ko-Kinko metalwork, it captures the intense energy and atmospheric shift following the Sengoku period, distinguishing itself from the more controlled, realistic metalwork styles that emerged in the subsequent early Edo period.
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
- Width
- 60 mm
- Height
- 64 mm
- Weight
- 104 grams
- Thickness
- 3 mm
Design
- Motif
- bamboo and plum
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
- Ko-Kinko
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.