Den Umetada Kinkō Tsuba (伝埋忠金工鐔)

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Japanese Title: 菊花十字透鐔 (kikka-juji mon sukashi tsuba)

Material: Red Copper (shakudō 赤銅)

Age: Middle Edo Period (江戸時代中期)

Size: 7.5 cm X 7.8 cm, 3.0 mm at rim

Signature: Tagane-mei (鏨銘), mumei (無銘)  

Shape: Nagamaru-gata （長丸形)

Surface Finish: Migaki-ji (磨地)

Attachment: NBTHK Hozon Paper

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This is soft metal handguard (tsuba 鐔) made of a dark copper-gold alloy (shakudō 赤銅). It was likely mounted and used on a long sword (katana 刀) based on its size. The surface has a highly polish smooth (migaki-ji 磨地) mirror-like finish. The positive openwork (ji-sukashi 地透) design is that of a stylized family crest in the shape of the Kanji for the number ten (juji 十字) associated with feudal lords (Daimyō 大名) of Satsuma Province (薩摩國) but was also used as crest by other prominent samurai families. The openwork design in accented by smooth inlays (zōgan 象嵌) of a chrysanthemum flower (kika 菊花) in gold (kin 金) and vines in copper (dō 銅). The rounded-square rim (kaku-mimi koniku 角耳小肉) is polished differently than the surface (ji 地) of the tsuba creating a dramatic contrast between the two areas.

The hole on the left side for the handle of a small accessory knife (kozuka hitsu-ana 小柄櫃穴) was added later and disrupts the inlay work on one side of the tsuba. This indicates that tsuba was likely remounted more than once on different swords. I think this tsuba dates from the middle Edo Period circa 1700 CE based upon its multiple remounts with modification, quality, and style of the inlays. During this time the Umetada (埋忠) School was still based primary in Nishijin-ori (西陣織) in Kyōto (京都).

On April 1, 2022, it underwent formal appraisal (shinsa 審査) in Tokyo, Japan at the Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword (NBTHK) to be a work in the tradition of the Umetada School. An appraisal paper (hozon tōsōgu kanteisho 保存刀装具鑑定書) was issued confirming the tsuba is authentic, of good quality, has artistic merit, and is worthy of historical preservation.

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Provenance: Unknown Purchased from a US Japanese antiques dealer.