A JAPANESE IRON KANAYAMA TSUBA

A JAPANESE IRON KANAYAMA TSUBA

MUROMACHI PERIOD, 16TH CENTURY

The circular plate decorated with a large openwork design (sukashi) of abstract symbols reminiscent of Buddhist jewels and ginger leaves, unsigned, with Hozon Tosogu (Sword fitting Worthy of Preservation) certificate no.453022 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (The Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), dated 18th October 2007, in a kiri box, 7cm. (3)

Provenance: from a European private collection.

Kanayama tsuba are amongst the earliest sukashi tsuba (with openwork design). The first mentions of Kanayama tsuba in the Edo Period describes then as already ancient and this aged look is one of their characteristics.