Tsuba

Two stacks of each 5 flat boxes or trays for storing kozuka, fuchi-kashira or other small and flat objects, the tops both covered with a lid. Both stacks stand on a rectangular bottom plate, tied with a braided silk rope. Shitan (sandal wood). Meiji period, around 1900.
Bottom plate: 9 7/8 x 8 5/8 in. (25 x 21.8 cm). Each tray 8 3/8 x 4 ¾ x 1 1/16 in. (21.4 x 12.1 2.8 cm).
Bottom plate with split, traces of re-gluing at the trays, braid virtually worn down, minor warping of the sides ...

A rare oval und convex shaped Japanese iron sword guard with two amaryu in gold nunome. Condition: good. Dimensions: 6,9 cm high x 6,1 cm wide.

Japanese Mid-Edo Period Akao Tsuba with exotic palm tree design. The palm design is done in great detail and realism. Signed YOSHITSUGU. The Tsuba measures 2 13/16" tall, 2 3/4" wide and 5/32" thick.

This set is a rare Christie's auction catalogues on Japanese art from 3/20/1985 and 3/21/1985. The boxed set includes all six catalogues and the prices realized.

This group covers ceramics, porcelains, lacquer, inro, netsuke, sword fittings, Nihonto, tsuba, kogo, Ukiyo-e, Sharaku, kabuto, and on and on.

The catalogues are as follows;
Fine Japanese Prints 3/20/85
Important Japanese Armor 3/20/85
Important Japanese Sword Fittings 3/20/85
Important Japanese Pri...

Antique Japanese tsuba done in the finest craftsmanship. Made of iron with extensive shakudo nanako plate overall and with many gold blossoms. A motif of very detailed chrysanthemums densely covers both sides of the tsuba. The view in general would be titled, "Kikka Senpi zu" or Chrysanthemums in full bloom. Age: Possibly Momoyama Period. Size: Diameter: 2.75"

A sublime antique Japanese tsuba centered on the theme of the ocean. The tsuba contains motifs of abalone shell, basket weave pattern, and waves peeking through the patterned holes near the area where the blade would have been fitted. Tsuba is done in iron with mixed metal accents to highlight the abalone shell and rope. Age: 19th century, Edo period. Size: Diameter: 3.25"

Japanese Edo Tsuba w Flying Dragon

Description & Size: 7.87 x 8.38 x 0.58 cm (3.1" x 3.3" x 0.23") height & wide & thickness

Age: Edo Period; Material: Iron, Silver & Gold; Production: Handcrafted & Forged

This is an a nice & hand forged Japanese Edo Tsuba with a flying dragon. The dragon has gold inlaid on the eyes & whiskers, it's also dotted with silver around on both side of the tsuba. The tsuba has a silver cover fukurin. The tsuba comes with a woode...

Tsuba with openwork design of a falcon resting on the branch of an old pine tree. Iron, with remnants of gilding on the falcon eye and on the tree leaves. The tsuba is unsigned. Japan, early Edo period. Height: 3 3/8" (8,7 cm. Oxidation, otherwise very good condition.

An antique Japanese tsuba done in a fluted style. The tsuba is inlayed with different copper, gold, and silver colored metals done in the zogan and shakudo styles. The image is depicting the famous scene from the Tales of Ise known as Azuma Kudari where Ariwara no Narihira goes to the East and sees Mt. Fuji. Size: Diameter 2.5" Height 0.2" Age: 19th century

An antique Japanese iron tsuba decorated with motifs of autumn grasses, such as chrysanthemums and a bellflower and suzumushi crickets. The base is done similar to a tsuchime-ji base. Size: Diameter 3.25" height 0.2" Age: 19th century

Antique Japanese iron tsuba, or hand guard for a sword. It has an oval shape with raised motif of gold inlay bamboo shoots and leaves crossing in from the outer edges. Its backside has a single bunch of gold inlay leaves peeking in from the bottom. Size: 2.75" height, 2.5" width

Antique Japanese iron tsuba or hand guard for a sword, in a mokko or melon shape, decorated with motifs of thin tree branches with plums and blossoms, with silver and Shokudo inlay, and an engraved sun in the top corner. The backside has a small cluster of plums inlaid with silver. Size: 3" height, 2.75" width

The Katchushi style of this tsuba gives it an earlier look and feel. But it is probably an Edo period work (might expect more wear on the seppa-dai or more conspicuous tekkotsu on an older example.) The thin body nonetheless resilient. Strong, sparse, decorative file marks on the vertical add to character. Adept use of the file, thin plate and slight taper toward the rim could support argument a swordsmith may have made the tsuba. Genji style mon and two five petal blossoms in fine open work (so...

An armorer's tsuba, with very slightly raised rim on the strong, flat iron plate. Pierced decoration of a shrimp with pleasing, subtle swell along the antennae and legs (mostly on the ura.) Small, irregular brass inlays for the eyes (missing from one eye - not conspicuous.) The kogai-ana plugged with a copper rich alloy. Oval form about 2 7/8" (7.3 cm) by 2 3/4" (6.985 cm). Thickness at rim about 5/32" (.39 cm). Late 16th century to early 17th century - perhaps Momoyama period. Or possibly earli...

A katchushi (or armorer's) tsuba, probably Myochin, with pierced decoration of ship's rudders (the significance being a comparison of rudders steering a ship to values guiding a Samurai's life choices.) The strong, homogenous, dense iron plate with only light tekkotsu and smooth to the touch. Dark patina. Momoyama to early Edo. Good condition: Lamination folds with openings evident on the surface of one side. Ex Skip Holbrook collection. 3 3/32" x 3 1/16" x 1/8" (7.8 cm x 7.7 cm x .32 cm)

An armorer's iron tsuba, possibly for a wakizashi as it is somewhat diminuitive in size. Or perhaps more in keeping with its apparent age, an early example of a proportionately small tsuba used with an uchigatana as was first the fashion. Sukashi decoration of a conch (horagai) traditionally used for ritual practices and for signaling on the battlefield. The rare uchikaeshi-hineri rim (mimi) is significantly raised and defined almost as if to suggest a separate piece of iron around the rim (thou...

An iron, Ko-Tosho (early sword smith's) tsuba. The slightest taper from seppa dai towards rim. Pierced decoration. Purchased from Andy Quirt (ex Skip Holbrook collection) at the February 2016 Tampa show, he thought it depicted gourds. I guess the beholder might see different things. I see Japanese eggplants on leafy vine (two fruit and two leaves) supported by a bamboo trellis. An uncommon and well executed, balanced decoration. The hitsu-ana appears to be original to the tsuba. Late Muromachi. ...

Antique Japanese tsuba (hand guard for a samurai sword). Made of bronze in the form of bending grain and leaves inlaid with gold details.
Meiji Period (1868 -1912) Size: 2 3/8" long x 1 7/8" wide.