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Fittings for Sale
Owari Tsuba Ex: Sasano Collection Available
Arguably one of the most highly appreciated styles of tsuba by the Samurai, the Owari School demonstrates simplicity and durability in symmetrical designs of refined quality iron. The Owari School began a long prosperity originating in Oei (1394) and continuing well into the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The tsuba holds position as the most important of decorative elements on the sword with its immediate visibility of wealth and tastes. Family crests identify an individual’s class, prominence, authority, and even reputations. Placing them on a tsuba is an intentional effort to provide one’s social and political importance at a glance.
Small bones and lamination work in the rim. Wonderful patina and refined ji with excellent fine texture and sheen on the surface. Reverse of the pad is brushed by Sasano with attribution to Owari School.
Measures: 78.6 mm x 77.3 mm Edo Period, Early 17th Century. Price: $4250.00 domestic shipping and insurance included Nakago Menuki
Unusual menuki made from iron in the form of little sword nakagos, complete with signature of “Tamba no kami Yoshimichi” and the date of Kans Just for kicks and giggles I compared the signature on them to the 7th generation of that period. Well, not even close, but still really unique, quirky, and just plain cool. I know there’s a shoami tsuba out there somewhere in the same kind of theme just beggin’ to be united. Price: $450.00
Pheasant and Mandarin Duck Menuki
Splendid multimetal menuki of a pheasant and a pair of mandarin ducks. I would guess these to be by the late edo Ishiguro school fittings makers. Ishiguro artists were gifted in the rendering of birds in multimetal with very tall sculpture, beautiful renderings, and wonderful application of different metals. The pheasant is poetic symbol of the coming of spring when it’s mating call can be heard, but also is an important symbol of imperial authority. The mandarin ducks are also harken spring’s coming, but also have symbolic roots of matrimonial success and fidelity reaching back into Korean and Chinese traditions. A good candidate for submission to shinsa.
Shakudo, gold, silver, copper 42 mm x 15 mm Price: Peony and Butterflys
Wakizashi sized tsuba and matching kozuka with silver peonies and butterflys. Iron kozuka are fairly uncommon and this on is in very nice condition, with only minor loss to the gold at the mounth of the piece. Rich russet brown patina. Most likely later mid to late edo work. Priced as a set: $550.00 Iron and Shakudo Wheel Tsuba
Interesting and well done katana sized tsuba of a cart wheel with bamboo spokes and what look to be kamons. The piercing and sculpting is delicate and skillfully done. The iron plate has a nice patina throughout and the edge has a shakudo fukurin installed making a nice addition to the design. Sometimes fukurin are installed after a tsuba was sized down at the rim, thus covering the evidence of the trimming. However based on the overall design composition, I think the rim was originally by design. Your guess is as good as mine on school, but I guess we can always be safe with sticking a label of “shoami” on it. Measures: 76 mm x 76 mm x 4.5 mm
Daisho Tsuba with Kiku Carvings
This pair of daisho tsuba are iron with carvings to represent the Kiku, or Chrysanthemum, the symbol of the Emporer. The two are individual tsubas from different makers, brought together to make the set. They do demonstrate slightly different hue, texture, and carving style, however they are close enough to make a nice mountable set. There are traces of black lacquer on the larger tsuba. Although not regular practice, tsuba were occasionally lacquered, for decoration or protection from the elements.
Dai: 77 mm x 76 mm x 5 mm Sho: 67 mm x 66.5 mm x 5 mm $600.00 Iron Plum Blossom Fuchi and Kashira
Mountable iron plum blossom fuchi and kashira. The shape of the kashira is very intriguing and unusual. The inlay of plum blossoms and branchs are well done. The set has seen some corrosion, and I boned off most of the problem stuff. Some more love and time will help them more. Good set for a smaller katana, wakizashi, or tanto.
Fuchi: 38 mm x 21.5 mm Kashira: 32 mm x 11.5 mm $225.00 Rats!!!
These are actually tobacco pouch ornaments from different makers. Same theme, different work and material. One is copper, the other brass. They were taken off of a fairly old handle though. I believe bountiful harvest and prosperity is the underlying theme. They do make good mountable menuki, saya ornaments, or hey, maybe you have two tobacco pouches.
21.5 mm x 19 (copper) 25 mm x 19 (brass) $100.00
Copyright © 2005 by Ted Tenold. Duplication or copying prohibited without permission.
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