Japan - Aizu Shôami Daishō Tsuba

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Japan, Koto/Shinto - Muromachi, Moyama, Edo Period (1573-1631 AD) - Aizu Shôami Daishō Tsuba. These sword guards (tsuba 鐔) are made of forged iron (tetsu 鉄). The Dai (large): has a polished surface (migaki-ji), shows flowering kiri plants and gold nunome. It has a four-sided shape (sumiiri-mokkō-gata) with slight notches at the corners and rounded rim (maru-mimi). There are two hitsu-ana holes (kogai and kozuka – plugged). It also features a udenuki-ana (sun and moon). Size: 70.68mm x 75.76mm, 5.49mm at rim, 134g. The Sho (small): has a polished surface (migaki-ji), shows flowering kiri plants and gold nunome. It has a standard vertically elongated round shape (nagamaru-gata) and rounded rim (kaku-mimi). There are two hitsu-ana holes. There are copper fillings (Suaka Sekigane) to top and bottom of tang hole (nakago-ana) and the one side of the hitsu-ana. Size: 65.82mm x 72.18mm, 5.33mm at rim, 134g. This daisho tsuba is likely for use on a katana and wakizashi. Stock Nr. #26.