Tachi Kanagushi Tsuba

Yamagane mokkogata tsuba with fine line chasing of archaic aoi motif.  The hitsuana is original to the design, but likely was enlarged slightly.  I suspect the original would have been a very thin, curved trapezoidal shape.  Traces of black lacquer remain on the plate and inside the chased lines.  Simple, elegant and old, this would have been mounted on a koshigatana.

6.05 x 5.2 x 0.30 cm

Early to mid Muromachi period (ca. 1400 - 1450)

ex. Robert E. Haynes collection