Nanban Tsuba (南蛮鐔)
 

Japanese Title: 三頭の竜唐草図透鐔 (santo no ryu to hōju-karakusa zu sukashi tsuba)

Material: Iron (Tetsu 鉄)

Age: Edo Period (江戸時代)

Size: 7.4 cm X 7.8 cm, 4.0 mm at rim.

Signature: Mumei (無銘)

Shape: Nagamaru-gata (長丸形)

Surface Finish: Ishime-ji (石目地)

Attachment: None

 

This handguard (tsuba 鐔) is for a long sword (katana 刀) worn edge up at the waste. It is made of well forged iron (tetsu 鉄). The design contains three auspicious Chinese style serpentine dragons (ryu 竜) and a wish fulfilling gem (hōju宝珠) surrounded by clouds carved in the background of a complex vine network. The design collectively can be written in Japanese as (santo no ryu to hōju-karakusa zu sukashi 三頭の竜唐草図透). The classic design is wonderfully detailed Intricately carved in (nikubori-jishukashi 肉彫地透かし) and extends to both side of the tsuba. The dragons, clouds, wish fulfilling gem, and rim of the tsuba are all nicely highlighted with gold fabric style inlays (kin nunome-zōgan 金布目象嵌). The overall shape of the tsuba is an elongated round (nagamaru-gata 長丸形). The rim of the tsuba is an uncommon irregular shape (変わり形kawari-gata).

Provenance: Unknown purchased from a US Asian Art Dealer at the 2025 Baltimore Antique Arms Show.