Shibuichi Tsuba with Rakan Handaka Sonja, school of Sugiura Joi
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century, Edo period
This Japanese tsuba, or sword guard, dates to the 19th century and is crafted from shibuichi, a copper-silver alloy. It features a nagamarugata (oval) form with a slightly raised mimi (rim).
The migakiji, or polished ground, is expertly decorated using shishiaibori (sunken relief carving), kebori (hairline engraving), and katakiribori (a technique resembling brush strokes), enhanced with gold and silver takazogan (high-relief inlay). The obverse depicts the Rakan Handaka Sonja raising a bowl to release a dragon, while the reverse illustrates the dragon floating amidst clouds. The tsuba includes a kozuka hitsu ana, and the nakago ana (central hole) is fitted with suaka and silver sekigane (plugging material).
Signed "Issando Joi," the guard reflects the aesthetic mastery of the Sugiura Joi school, known for its fine detail and narrative quality. The object measures 7.1 cm in height, 6.5 cm in length, with a mimi thickness of 0.5 cm and a weight of 144.1 g.
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
- 7.1 cm
- Length
- 6.5 cm
- Weight
- 144.1 g
- Material
- Shibuichi, suaka, silver, gold
- Thickness mimi
- 0.5 cm
- Thickness seppa dai
- 0.4 cm
Technical characteristics
- Form
- nagamarugata
- Features
- kozuka hitsu ana, nakago ana with suaka and silver sekigane
- Carving techniques
- shishiaibori, kebori, katakiribori, takazogan
Design
- Obverse
- Handaka Sonja releasing a dragon from a bowl
- Reverse
- Dragon floating above clouds
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
- Issando Joi
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.