Rare and unusual Tsuba - 300 USD

[Reinier]

A rare and unusual Tsuba with a Shoji screen design?

71 x 70 mm
89 gram
Edo period 1603 - 1868
Nice patina
Including luxurious Paulowna wooden box

 

At first glance the tsuba looks simple but if you look at it carefully you will notice the craftsmanship that went into making it.

The holes are sharply cut and the lines between them very thin which is difficult to make.

The smith has gone to a lot of trouble to make the tsuba almost perfectly symmetrical. The holes vary in shape and size but are always identical on both sides. Even the kogai and kozuka holes are symmetrical and look more like two kozuka holes.

The indentations around the nakago ana (tang hole) indicate this tsuba has been mounted and used on at least one sword but probably several swords.

 

I have only found one similar tsuba online which is for sale for 400 USD. Photo included.

 

A nice and unusual piece.

 

300 USD excluding shipping from The Netherlands

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

These remind me of the chainmail windows in some koté armour sleeves. Can't remember the right expression without going and looking it up!

 

籠手鎖模様甲冑枡形 - 検索 画像 (bing.com)