Large marugata (round) tsuba of Heianjo style, with brass inlay of floral elements a rope-edge. Twenty eight (28) seed-shaped sukashi have been added along the outer perimeter of the tsuba.  These are not quite round, but rather come to a slight point on the inner-side, pointing to the nakago-ana.  Aoi leaves and karakusa  are inlaid in brass zogan on the plate.    The brass is actually of two different types which is interesting, as the duller brass seen in the karakusa may be of a type sourced from melted-down Chinese coinage, while the aoi mons are of a whiter brass may be domestic and a later addition.  This tsuba is a good study piece of illustrating how popular brass inlay was in the Muromachi, but also that styles changed, and with those changes, tsuba were altered and 'modernized'.

Muromachi - Azuchi Momoyama.

8.6 cm x 8.55 cm x 0.35 cm

 

$2100