Akasaka tsuba

Sprouts design

Mumei, Edo period, 17th Century

Iron, 7.3 x 7.1 x 0.7 cm

NBTHK Hozon Tōsogu

Specifications: Marugata, tetsu-ji, ji-sukashi, maru-mimi

Iron tsuba with positive openwork design of stylised sprouts. The subject is rare and shows the elegance typical of the Akasaka school.

Akasaka sword guards were manufactured in the Akasaka area of Edo, starting in the Kan-ei era (l648) and continuing until the ninth year of Meiji (1876). The style reminds Owari rather than Kyo tsuba and some believe that the first two masters, both named Tadamasa, came from the Owari region.

The tsuba comes with a Hozon Tōsogu certificate (fitting worth of preservation) issued by Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai.