Set of two maru-gata iron tsuba, Japan, 18th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Edo period, 18th century
This set consists of two Japanese maru-gata tsuba, or sword guards, dating to the 18th century Edo period. The first tsuba is fashioned from iron with a 'mokume' finish that mimics the grain of wood.
It features an openwork design in kage-sukashi of a lantern and a paulownia motif. It bears signatures of Shigehiro and Haruyuki on both faces, located to the left of the nakago-ana. The second tsuba is decorated in low relief, enhanced with sentoku and shibuichi, depicting two figures near a pine tree and a small mountain pavilion on the reverse. This piece features a single kozuka hitsu-ana and is signed 'Yamashiro (no) kuni Fujiwara Kanesada'.
The tsuba measure 7.5 cm and 8 cm in height respectively. Both pieces exhibit signs of age, specifically slight oxidation and loss of original patina.
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
- 7.5 cm - 8 cm
- Material
- iron, sentoku, shibuichi
Technical characteristics
- Type
- maru-gata
- Fittings
- kozuka hitsu-ana
- Decoration style
- kage-sukashi, low relief
Design
- Motifs
- lantern, paulownia, pine tree, figures, mountain pavilion
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
- Shigehiro, Haruyuki, Yamashiro (no) kuni Fujiwara Kanesada
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.