Perfect symmetry with flawless execution of gold and shakudo. Both fuchi and Kashira bodies consist of a medium grained

shakudo nanako field of blue-black hue. Upon this field are Hi-Ogi (Cypress fans) done as shakudo takabori and 

decorated with gold inlayed tassles and tomoe mon. There is one fan to the kashira, one fan to the fuchi.  An additional 

mon, depicting the tachibana (Mandarin Orange) over a fine nanako background within a ring, is also on the fuchi's surface.

This mandarin orange crest, implicates this set of fittings to a well established family - the Tachibana clan.  A note on 

Hi-Ogi. These fans were made of Cypress wood and carried as "... a formal part of the traditional court costume. The 

number of arms or slats on one of these fans denotes the age, sex, and rank of the bearer. The higher the status- the 

fewer the slats."  Possibly commisioned by the Tachibana on a family members appointment to court, the strength and 

crispness of these fittings suggest never having been used for their intended purpose. 

The signature reads  O-oka Masatsugu.  Not much is known about this artist except that he worked in the late Edo period,

 circa 1830-1860 within the O-oka family. His signature and kao was recorded by Henri Joly.

Further Specimens and information on O-Oka Masatsuga as follows:

Shosankenshu, By Henri Joli, published in 1919. Alphabetised under M, entry number 248