Ko-kinkō Chōji Tsuba

Ko-kinkō tsuba (古金工鐔) with 3-layer construction or sanmai awase, with the decorative layers made of shakudō with nanako (赤銅 魚子三枚仕合わせ地).  The motif of cloves or chōji (丁子) has been carved in raised relief on the shakudo plate in a technique called sukidashi takabori (鋤出高彫), and then gold gilded.  All gold elements remain intact.  A shakudō fukurin (覆輪) is used to finish the rim.  The entire plate has then been covered with black lacquer, much of which remains.  This type of tsuba would likely have been used on a one-handed or katate-uchi (片手打ち) sword which was common in the late 16th and early 17th century.

Measurements: 6.9cm x 6.45cm x 0.43cm

Momoyama Period (桃山時代)

$975