docliss Posted March 23, 2008 Report Posted March 23, 2008 May I please have some suggestions regarding a possible origin of this striking mumei tsuba? It is a heavy, darkly patinated iron plate measuring 8.0 cm - 7.9 cm, and its sukinokoshi mimi has no visible folding lines. Its rough, hammered surface bears a number of ‘tem’ kokuin. On both surfaces are inlaid gold ivy leaves (tsutu) and tendrils, six on the obverse and five on the reverse; one of these is missing from the obverse, and the engraved outlines of the missing image can be clearly seen. The nakago-hitsu is well worn, and contains copper sekigane, and there are two conventionally shaped ryÅ-hitsu. I would label this as Yoshiro-zÅgan if the inlay were of brass, but it is of gold. Supposedly it may be a TempÅ plate upon which later Edo-period kinkÅ work has been added. But I am always puzzled by the choice of a TempÅ plate for inlay – surely a smooth surface would be a much more practical base upon which to apply such decoration? With thanks for your help, John L. Quote
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