Very rare set of a naginata / nagamaki tsuba (薙刀 / 長巻鐔), and its associated ō-seppa and spacer. The tsuba is made of yamagane, and in kikkagata sukashi (菊花形透) chrysanthemum form, with 20 petals. The robust tsuba is very roughly cast and finished. Chisel marks can be seen in all of the openings, and no finishing, outside of filing the outer edge and plate surface has been applied. This is characteristic of early polearm tsuba, as these were weapons intended for hard field service and castle wall defense.
The tsuba comes with its original associated kanagu (金具), which include one ō-seppa (大切羽), and one ring spacer (back-position). Virtually identical tsuba are known from the Uesugi shrine collection, and one is published by the Sano Museum, with its blade and koshirae (see below image). I have to stress how rare and unusual an item this is, and that it would be a key feature of any collection of early tōsōgu.
For simiar item refer to publication: Bushi no Issho: Sukashi Tsuba by the Sano Museum, 1999.
Measurements: Tsuba 7.5cm x 7.3cm x 0.8cm; ō-seppa 4.0cm x 3.0cm; spacer 3.7cm x 2.4cm
Mid Muromachi Period (室町時代中期), 15th century
$2,500
Image from: Bushi no Issho: Sukashi Tsuba by the Sano Museum, 1999. Note similarities in roughness of finish, and markings in seppa-dai. This example retains fukurin remnants.
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