Showing all 161 results
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Tsuba signed, Echizen-ju Kinai saku
Tsuba, signed 越前住 記内作 (Echizen-jū Kinai saku). Iron, kawarigata tsuba in the image of a mushroom, showing the underside of the mushroom canopy
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Wild goose, water & moon tsuba
Iron, marugata, with image of wild goose flying over water with the moon reflected in the waves. Other abstract designs are as yet unidentified, and represent something of a mystery
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A beautiful Akasaka tsuba
The style of design is very similar to the second generation Akasaka master Tadamasa. Number “872” written inside nakago-ana indicates this tsuba have been part of a museum- or large collection
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A Ko-shoami, possibly Muromachi tsuba
The shape and thickness makes this an interesting tsuba. Possibly Ko-Shōami. Number “146” written inside nakago-ana indicates this tsuba have been part of a museum- or very large collection
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Owari style Shobu tsuba
The leaves could be iris leaves, which are symbolic of the samurai as their long, slender leaves are said to resemble swords, and the word for iris (shōbu) is a homonym for challenge or contest
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Mokko Heianjo-zogan Karakusa tsuba
Assume this is a late Edo tsuba that has not been mounted. But a nice, simple design, and the fine carvings on the rim of the tsuba are also interesting
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A Higo Nishigaki tsuba
Iron, maru-gata, image of stylized paulownia leaves in sukashi, inlaid with gold highlights done in nunome-zogan. The design is based on a classic “nage kiri” paulownia leaf design
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A very thick and interesting Ko-Shoami tsuba
Iron, kawarigata sukashi tsuba in the shape of a peach, with the surface of the leaves carved in kebori. Possibly (Ko-)Shōami school. A unique and charming tsuba
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A Katchushi style amida-yasuri tsuba
Iron, marugata, simple sukashi image of flower. Slight amida-yasuri lines radiating out from the center. Done in Katchushi style (katchushi were armor manufacturers who made simple, yet functional tsuba in the Muromachi era
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A fine Tosho Gunbai tsuba
Iron, marugata, Tosho style of design with sukashi image of gunbai (war fan). The military commander’s fan (gunbai) was cherished by the samurai warriors
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Big horse-riding equipment themed tsuba
Iron, tatemaru-gata, image of horse-riding equipment: saddle, stirrups, riding crop on the recto, and bridle on the verso
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Tsuba of Emperor Liu Bei’s escape
Iron, marugata, carving done in takabori style, depicting a scene from the Three Kingdoms, where Emperor Liu Bei escapes his pursuers by crossing the Tan River
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A large Owari sukashi tsuba
Iron, marugata, Owari, or possibly Shōami tsuba with sukashi depicting a spool motif with inner mokkō design
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Soten style Shinobi (assasin) tsuba
Iron, marugata, Sōten style image of samurai or shinobi entering a house, with highlights in gold, silver, and bronze
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Large Soten style tsuba
Iron, marugata, openwork design done in Sōten style of what appears to be a Chinese sage with a retainer, and two phoenixes flying overhead. Highlights of gold and silver inlay
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Beautiful Jakushi tsuba of Chinese poet So Tōba
This tsuba is one of the best of Jakushi school tsuba I have ever seen. Its a rare, large sized, very unique and skillfully done example, which also appears to be in near pristine condition and is absolutely gorgeous in hand
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Appealing deep chocolate brown Samurai tsuba
Copper and gold nunome-zogan is used to highlight the samurai’s face and armor. Tsuba is in excellent condition and the deep chocolate brown patina/color is very, very nice
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Nice tsuba in excellent condition
The varying carving techniques, as well as the colored metals, draw the viewer’s attention around the tsuba. Excellent condition
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Goshu Hikone-ju, Soheishi Nyudo Soten-sei tsuba
Large and very beautifully carved Soten tsuba with figure of Li Bai admiring a waterfall in sukashi, with detailed highlights in colored metals of gold, silver and shakudo and brass
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Tanto tsuba in Shakudo
Image of bellflowers through mist on front and back, highlighted in colored metals. Very good condition
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A tea ceremony tsuba
Iron, tatemaru-gata, inlaid with images of items used in tea ceremony inlaid in colored metal alloys
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Kofu school, Shinchu-chi Rain Dragon tsuba
inchū-chi (brass), kawarigata tsuba with abstract image of rain dragon representing a “rain dragon”
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Tsuba of rustic scene of houses in mountains
Iron, nadekaku-gata tsuba with rustic scene of houses in mountains, with bits of brass and silver highlights
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Geese and fishing village under moon tsuba
Iron, marugata, images of geese and fishing village under the moon in nunome-zōgan
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Namban Dragon & Amida style tsuba
Image of stylized rain dragons on a background of amida style sun rays giving the impression of a Namban type of design
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Mokko tsuba with image of mountain
Iron, jūji-mokkō-gata, image of mountain scenery on front and back, with highlights in brass and copper
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A near pristine Manji tsuba
Iron, maru-gata, images of manji (buddhist symbols) in sukashi. A near pristine tsuba with no blemishes
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Interesting Yamagane tsuba
Iron, mokkō-gata tsuba with surface textured in a cloth-like pattern, with four arabesque designs at four points (“shihōkan”) and ten-zōgan dot inlays
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Saotome Tsuba
A beautiful example of an iron tsuba from the Saotome school with a very good patina. This tsuba is in excellent conditions and all lines of the petal remain intact
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Wan-gata katchu-shi style tsuba
Done in katchu-shi style, it is slightly unusual to see such a tsuba in the wan-gata style
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A powerful Bushu Bamboo tsuba
A powerful tsuba in the Bushū style, with a hint of elegance in the design
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Tsuba, signed Kofu-ju Namitoshi
Namitoshi was a late Edo era metalworker, working in the Bushū style
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Copper Ho-o & Paulownia Sukashi Tsuba
Tsuba with image of hō-ō (phoenix) and paulownia in sukashi. The number inside the nakago ana would be an acquisition number for a western museum, or private collection
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A nice Owari tsuba
Iron, maru-gata, sukashi tsuba, Owari tsuba of abstract design, with two hitsu-ana
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Superb Masakiyo tsuba in pristine condition
Masakiyo (civilian name of Takabayashi Isagi) was born in Shizuoka in 1929. Few examples of this smith’s work are in existence today
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Daisho set, signed Kaneuji
A well-preserved daisho tsuba set, signed Kaneuji, and without significant damage, or wear
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Rabbits & Ferns tsuba
Iron, maru-gata, with images of rabbits and ferns in the foreground, with hills and a pagoda in the background, done in gold, silver, and shakudō inlay
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Temple on water Tsuba
ron, tatemaru-gata, image of five geese in gold inlay or gold-plated metal, flying over a what looks to be a temple or shrine on the water
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Tsuba, signed Jakushi
The Jakusui school was founded in Nagasaki in the mid-Edo era, by a samurai priest. The school spanned some 8 generations
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Mokko-gata Bird Tsuba
The branch of the tree continues over the rim of the tsuba to the opposite side: an artistic flourish of the metalworker, adding a three-dimensionality to the tsuba
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Chōshū Hagi-jū Sakunoshin Tomohisa Daisho set
This is a remarkably well-preserved set from the late Edo period. Sakunoshin Tomohisa was a metalworker from the late Edo period
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Ko-Hagi/Chōshū Daisho tsuba set
Image of chrysanthemums in positive and negative silhouette in the so-called “Ko-Hagi” style. To find a daisho pair of tsuba in this condition is becoming more and more rare
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A Kaga wan-gata tsuba
his tsuba bears similarity to one found in the catalogue (see photo) signed Sadayuki (貞之) of Kaga province, both in shape and carving style. This tsuba may be an unsigned work of Sadayuki, or one of his contemporaries in Kaga
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A unique Owari tsuba
Iron, six-lobed mokkō-gata tsuba with of inome (heart-shapes) arranged symmetrically inside of six-sided geometric pattern in sukashi on the inside of the tsuba
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Severed Heads tsuba by Gotō Tadamitsu
Gotō Tadamitsu (忠光), who was apprenticed to Gotō Injō (殷乗). Notice the subtle and illusory way Tadamitsu has integrated 3 severed heads into the motif of one head, thus forcing the viewer to look deeper. Incredibly elegant and creatively executed
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Chrysanthemum Bushu school tsuba
Chrysanthemum Bushū school tsuba with images of chrysanthemums scattered around the tsuba carved in relief
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Big Choshu tsuba by Zensuke Tomotsune
Zensuke Tomotsune was a highly-regarded smith from Chōshū, and a retainer of the Mōri clan. Robert Haynes says this about Tomotsune; “he is considered first among all the Chōshū workers“
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Tsuba, signed Bushu-ju Masachika saku
Masachika was a metalworker of the Bushū group, active in the latter part of the 1700s, specializing in designs featuring flora
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Tsuba, signed Iwamoto-ju Yoshitaka
Yoshitaka (of the Komai family) was a late-Edo era metalsmith, living and working in the Ueno area of Tōkyō
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A tsuba of the Samurai
A very strong and solid-looking tsuba..This tsuba in style and appearance catches the essence and definition of a real Samurai tsuba
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A Sendai tsuba w/ seal
Inlay of gold seal bearing a single kanji (possibly 来 or 栄). The design of rain dragons in gold inlay are typical of the Sendai school
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A big strong Higo style Tsuba
Iron, slight tatemaru-gate, dote mimi with kin and gin zogan carved into the rim. Two hitsu-ana. A nice strong and powerful tsuba
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A rare Tokei tsuba
A very interesting tsuba that is nice, well-balanced, and in good condition. Not many in this style are found for sale
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Heianjo gomoku-zogan inome tsuba
Iron, slight mokkō-gata shape with inome (heart-shaped) perforations at the indentations with gomoku-zōgan style of brass ornamentation
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Heianjo gomoku zogan tsuba
Iron, maru-gata, Heianjō tsuba with bits of brass embedded into the iron plate in a style known as “gomoku zōgan”
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Heianjo maru-gata, hollyhock tsuba
Iron, maru-gata, hollyhocks in brass inlay. Heianjō style tsuba from muromachi or mid-to-early Edo era
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Heianjo/Yoshiro tsuba w/ two ho-o
Iron, maru-gata, image of two hō-ō (phoenix) in brass inlay. Perforations around the circumference of the tsuba representing sacred jewels
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Heianjo tsuba w/ image of butterfly
The perforations inside of the rim represent sacred jewels. A unique design from the Edo era
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Maru-gata Yoshiro style tsuba
Iron, maru-gata Yoshirō style tsuba with brass inlay of maple leaves and bamboo, with six roundels of bell flowers in a typical Yoshirō design
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Tsuba in style of Koike Yoshiro
The work on this tsuba is in the style of work of Koike Yoshirō
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A seldom seen Yoshiro tsuba
A seldom seen variation of a typical Yoshirō tsuba. Its seems slightly unusual to have a mokko-gata shape with “okezoko-mimi” on a Yoshirō tsuba
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Heianjo, leaves & vines tsuba
Iron, tatemaru-gata, with leaves and vines, possibly representing grape vines, in brass inlay. Heianjō, Edo era
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Heianjo/Yoshiro Mogusa tsuba
Iron, kawarigata tuba, with “water weed” (mogusa) patterns scattered throughout the tsuba in brass inlay
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Heianjo, Bell flowers tsuba
Iron, kikka-gata with sukashi perforations, brass inlay of bell flowers. Heianjō style
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Kaga Yoshiro style Inome tsuba
Iron, mokkō-gata with heart-shaped (inome) sukashi at the indentations, brass inlay arabesques and flowers
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Nanban tsuba w/ floral design
This tsuba features an unusual openwork design cut into the seppa-dai.
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Nanban, Canton tsuba
This Chinese export sword guard is made with the Japanese market in mind. Probably Canton, the second half of the 18th century
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Naban tsuba, dragon reaching for jewel
Iron, maru-gata, image of dragon reaching for jewel in Nanban style, carved in relief with gilt highlights
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Tsuba, signed Jōshū Nishijin Shōami Masanori
Signed by Shōami Masanori. An interesting fact. Marcus Sesko points out, Masanori was the first Shoami smith to sign with his own name
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Bushū Itō Manji Tsuba
Excellent condition, and a fine example of the intricate openwork of the Bushū school
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Ōmori tsuba, signed Terumasa
A metalsmith of the Ōmori school, Terumasa worked in Edo towards the end of the Edo era (mid-19th century)
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Choshu-ju, Masayoshi saku
The signature on this tsuba is Masayoshi of Chōshū Province, in the area of present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture
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Higo tsuba, in the style of Hayashi
Higo, in the style of Hayashi. An excellent execution of a Higo, Hayashi-design, from the mid-Edo period
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Higo tsuba, Hachi-no-Ki
The overall theme is the Noh play “Hachi-no-Ki”, which tells the story of an innkeeper who chopped down his prized trees. Higo
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Fine Akasaka Sukashi tsuba
A somewhat abstract design of crickets and autumn grasses with fine metalwork, done by what appears to be an early Edo master of the Akasaka school
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Heianjo sukashi tsuba of Spiny lobsters
Two spiny lobsters arranged asymmetrically in sukashi inside of a circular rim with hitsu for kōgai and kozuka
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Higo Hayashi twelve family crests Tsuba
Iron, jūnimokkō-gata tsuba with images of twelve family crests in sukashi, in small circles arranged around the perimeter of the tsuba. Higo, after Hayashi
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Heianjo Tsuba with Dragon in golden brass inlay
Iron, nademaru-gata, Heianjō with image of rain dragon in russet iron, great condition
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Edo Daisho Tsuba set of Scythes
Daishō set of tsuba, unsigned. Iron, kawarigata, set of daishō tsuba with sickle-like object on top and bottom in sukashi
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Shoami Mitsu-domoe Tsuba
Iron, round-shaped with image of mitsu-domoe in sukashi. Shōami. Edo period
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Hayashi Tsuba of family crest in sukashi
Iron, round-shaped, with image of family crest motifs in sukashi. Most certainly Hayashi school
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Unsigned Mito school Tsuba
Iron, tatemaru-gata, raised rim and hammer marks, with image of the poet Li Bai admiring a waterfall under pine trees
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Echizen Tsuba, signed Mitsunaga saku
Mitsunaga was a metalsmith working in Echizen province at the end of the Edo period
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Tsuba with image of ho-o
The theme and composition is typical for either a smith from one of the Echizen schools, or from the Bushū school
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Heianjo Butterflies Tsuba
Iron, maru-gata, with image of butterflies and autumn grasses, with gold and silver inlay
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Akasaka-style Tsuba -Pine Trees through mist
Iron, round-shaped tsuba with image of pine trees through mist, done in Akasaka-style sukashi
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Tsuba w/ sukashi image of Anchor
Iron, mokkō-gata shape, with sukashi image of anchor carved into a background of waves with points of gold inlay representing foam on the waves
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Edo-era Tosho Tsuba
Probably an Edo-era Tōshō style tsuba. It features a geometric “screen pattern” (like a Japanese sliding screen)
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Well-preserved Goto tanto Tsuba
A well-preserved tsuba for a tantō, in Gotō style, with fine nanako work offset beautifully by the gold plum and pine needles
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Bushu Itosukashi, signed Tadachika
Bushū Itō sukashi style. A detailed depiction of a conch-shell (horagai) used for signaling on the battlefield
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Kyo-sukashi tsuba of wild Geese in flight through rain
Iron, round shape of wild geese in flight through rain in sukashi, with gold inlay
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Crane and Pine Trees in Sukashi Tsuba
Pine and crane are often paired as auspicious symbols, particularly symbols of longevity
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Very nice Crane Tsuba
Iron, round shape in image of two cranes facing each other. The crane is a symbol of longevity, and consequently a symbol of good luck
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Tsuba of seven crests in itosukashi – Ex. Naunton collection
Ex. The Naunton collection. Published in the book “Japanese Sword Fittings: Collection of G.H. Naunton Joly, Henri L. Ref. item no. 961.
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Owari style Tsuba
Iron, round shaped, Owari-style tsuba in openwork with arabesques creating geometric patterns
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Tsuba, signed Otsuryūken Miboku + Kao
Shakudō, kawari-gata, with gold inlay. Image of a frog on lotus leaf. A beautiful and unusual Tsuba with excellent patina
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Tsuba, signed Kanayama-jū Sadatsugu
Iron, round with gold inlay. Openwork in fishing net pattern
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Boar with reeds Tsuba
Iron, oblong shape, image of boar with reeds, with gold inlay in the reeds
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Stylish Higo Hanabishi Tsuba
Iron, maru-gata, with openwork of stylized hanabishi, possibly representing a family crest, and arabesques of gold inlay on the rim
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Tsuba, signed Mikami Yoshihide
Iron, square with rounded corders, image of bracken ferns, eggplant and bamboo in moonlight, with inlays of gold, bronze, and shakudō
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Yokoya tsuba w/ Tiger & Bamboo
Polished copper, oval-shaped, with image of tiger and bamboo in katakiribori style
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Tsuba, signed Choshu Hagi ju Kawaji saku
Iron, round shape with plum blossoms and plum branches in openwork. Chōshū school
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Tsuba, signed Bushu-ju Masakata
Iron, kawarigata shape, with image of dog playing with an abalone shell tied to a string
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Interesting old Tansu cabinet pulls Tsuba
Iron, kawarigata (oddly-shaped) tsuba of unknown design
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Umetada Shigeyoshi Tsuba
Iron tsuba, round shape, birds in gold iroe over image of waves, with a background pattern of hexagon shapes in sukashi
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A fine Ko-kachushi Iron tsuba
Ko-kachushi Iron tsuba, round with raised rim, openwork of pine tree
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Mutsu-ju Naoaki Dragonfly Tsuba
Naoaki from Mutsu Province. Iron tsuba, oblong shape with image of dragonfly and water plantains
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Kyo-sukashi flowers/family crests Tsuba
Iron tsuba, maru-gata, with images of flowers, and plants, possibly indicating family crests, and arabesques in openwork
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Yoshi Kanemasa Horse Tsuba
Iron tsuba, kawari-gata, in the image of a horse, with the horse’s back forming the outer edge of the top of the tsuba, made by Kanemasa
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Large Aizu-ju Shoami Tsuba
Iron tsuba, maru-gata, with oak tree and leaves in colored metal with gold inlay, an also represented by the openwork spaces
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Beautiful Crane Tsuba
Iron tsuba in circular shape of crane, with gold inlay for the eyes. The crane is a symbol of good fortune
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Bamen Tsunemasa Tsuba
Iron tsuba, roundshaped with openwork representing a bird flying in front of a full moon partially obscured by mist
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Large Iron Tsuba signed Jōi
Jōi (1701-1781) Iron tsuba, mokkō-gata, with image of Shoki the demon queller on the front, and demon on the back
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Large Itomaki Karigane Kyo-Sukashi Tsuba
Large Itomaki Karigane Kyo-Sukashi Tsuba. Momoyama period
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Shakudo Tsuba by Katsura Ichimei
A very nice Shakudo tsuba with elements in various materials, signed Katsura Ichimei 桂一明. He died in 1873.
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Akasaka-Bushu, signed Tadatoki
Iron. A pine tree in the round amongst horizontal clouds. Signed Tadatoki.
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Choshu Hagi ju Nobuchika saku
Choshu Tsuba with heavy floral pattern signed Choshu Hagi ju Nobuchika saku
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Beautiful Kono school Tsuba
A very elegant and smooth high quality Kinko Tsuba with surface of Shakudo and details in gold and silver
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Wheel & Axe tortoise pattern Kodai Nobuie Tsuba
Wheel & Axe tortoise pattern Mokko Nobuie Tsuba
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Awesome NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Wave Tsuba
Tokubetsu Kichō (especially precious) appraisal paper issued by NBTHK in 1971. Yamagane, kikka-gata tsuba with scalloped rim, and image of waves on the tsuba plate with gold and silver zōgan which are representing foam on the waves
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Tsuba, signed Murakami Jochiku
Murakami Jochiku, son of a stirrup-inlayer of Yedo (about 1760), took to the making of sword-furniture in soft metals with fine inlays and taught some eight or nine pupils, including two of his daughters, Jotetsu and Josui.
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Bushu Sukashi Bird Tsuba. Ex. Backhoff collection
Bushu Sukashi Bird Tsuba. Ex. Backhoff collection
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Efu ju Akao Yoshitsugu w/NBTHK HOZON
Nice signed tsuba with great patina. NBTHK HOZON attribution to Efu ju Akao Yoshitsugu, Akao school
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Myochin Sukashi Mon Tsuba w/NTHK Tosogu Kanteisho
Iron mon Sukashi Tsuba w/NTHK Tosogu Kanteisho certificate
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Ozawa Kazuyuki w/kao. Ex. Duncan Beresford coll.
Ozawa Kazuyuki w/kao. Ex. the Duncan Beresford collection 5440. Theme is rope, waves and anchor.
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Seiryuken Eiju w/kao, Marugata
Seiryūken Eiju (成竜軒栄寿) was the art name of Tetsugendo Toryuken, also known as Naofusa (尚房)
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Seiryuken style Dragon Tsuba
Seiryūken style Dragon Tsuba. Seiryūken is zokumei/personal name. Sentoku / metal, Seriuken style, Japan, Meiji era, c. 1880.
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Rare Aoi shape Heianjo Tsuba
A rare Aoi shape Heianjo Tsuba and good quality when considering its age. Early Edo
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Sukashi Tsuba with houses and trees
Oval black iron tsuba with openwork and theme of houses and trees
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A nice Myochin Seashell Mokko Tsuba
I believe theme depicts seashell and shallow water on this very nice Myochin Mokko Tsuba
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Seiryūken Eiju w/kao, Mokko
Seiryūken Eiju (成竜軒栄寿) was the art name of Tetsugendo Toryuken, also known as Naofusa (尚房)
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Nagato Hagi ju Kawaji Ken’in, Tomochika saku
Large Tsuba. Made by Kawaji Ken’in Tomochika, resident in Hagi, Nagato (province)
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A very fine Soten Tsuba
A very nice unsigned Mokko-Gata shape Soten Tsuba with sage and trees in good condition. Beautifully carved with nice depth
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Tsuba w/ theme of old age and good retirement
Sukashi Tsuba with theme of leaning/walking stick, gourd, teaser, gourd and clouds. All symbols of making it to old age and a good retirement
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Ko-Kachushi Tsuba – Muromachi
An eight-spoke wheel connects the rim to the plate in this Katchushi Tsuba. The ‘spokes’, which symbolize the ‘eightfold path’, radiate from the plate forming eight repetitive semi-circular openings. The surfacehas perfect coloration and patina, the quality of iron is excellent
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Kyo-Shoami – Mitsudomoe
Kyo-Shoami Mitsudomoe Tsuba. Tomoe symbol is an ancient heraldic symbol og Japan shaped Magatama. In Japanese mythology Tomoe represents the weapons of Daimyojin Hachiman. Some clans of Samurai such as Taira have also used this symbol
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Ko-Tosho Tsuba
A very nice Ko-Tosho Tsuba of iron or steel in simple design and only 2 mm thickness. These Tsuba were produced from as early as Kamakura-period or even end of Heian-period by sword makers. It is a common theory that Ko-Tosho Tsuba were even made from leftover material from swords
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Echizen Kinai Dragon Tsuba
A nice Tsuba for dragon fans. I judge this Tsuba to Echizen Kinai, but I can be wrong. Please judge from pictures
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Wisteria and Paulownia crests Tsuba
Edo iron Tsuba with image of wisteria and paulownia, most likely representing two family crests
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Yoshiro Zogan Tsuba
A Heianjo Yoshiro school iron Katana tsuba with brass inlay. Rich and dark patina
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Tsuba, signed Egawa Toshimasa
Egawa Toshimasa was a metalworker of the Katsura school. He was owned by the Arima family on the Kurume domain and later changed its name to Sorin and lived to be over 80 years old
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Owari Sukashi Tsuba
A very beautiful Owari Sukashi Tsuba. Tsuba has large Kuzuka-hitsu-ana and square design Kogai-hitsu-ana. Well-made and has a lovely smotth patina