Large mokko-gata Ko katchushi tsuba with clever sukashi of inome and gemetric designs giving the impression of four dragon flies, wings encircling the inner plate with the inome being the head of each dragonfly.  Brass tenzogan outlines  the inner plate and inome.  Senzogan outline of the geometric sukashi (the dragonflies wings) but is largely missing.  Missing zogan is common and acceptable in Onin pieces of this age.  No hitsu-ana have been added, thus preserving the original character of the tsuba.  Areas of black lacquer are still present on the inner plate.    The nakago ana is also totally unaltered, showing a distinct rectagular form with no added sekigane. 

The slightly squarish mokko-form is very reminiscent of tachi tsuba from the 14th and 15th c., as is the broad squarish inner plate.  On a tachi tsuba, this exact form would have accommodated o-seppa.    It is this style of plate, coupled with moderate amounts of zogan, that makes me think this tsuba would be representative of the early Onin tradition.

It is extremely rare to find an ubu tsuba from this turbulent period, so this is truly a collectors piece, and a fine representation of an early Sengoku period tsuba.  This tsuba comes from my personal collection.  I have had it for years, and in that time, have seen only a few ubu Onin tsuba of this size and character.  It will make a great addition to an iron-tsuba collection.

Early to Mid Muromachi Period (15th c.)

8.5 x 8.6 x 0.25 cm.

 $1,700