This is an unsigned iron tsuba attributed to the Kacchushi school from the Edo period. It features an openwork design of butterflies and snow on a round plate. The tsuba comes in a Kiri box and includes an Aoi Art estimation paper.
Certificate reading — 無銘(甲冑師)
mumei · Kacchushi · Edo


Katchushi School
Edo
Unsigned
Tokuho
Tosho-Katchushi
68 pieces on the market now
The katchūshi (甲冑師, armorers) are understood to have produced sword guards as a sideline to their primary craft of forging armor components—helmet plates, small scales (kozane), and facial defenses (menpō). Before the emergence of specialist tsuba makers in the late Muromachi period, warriors relied upon swordsmiths and allied craftsmen to furnish practical yet meaningful guards. Learn more →
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteIf you wish to return an item, please notify us within 3 days of receipt. After this period we cannot accept cancellations. Please ship the return to us within 5 business days. Cancellation is conditional on the item being kept in the same condition as at the time of sale, so please handle it with care.
This is an unsigned iron tsuba attributed to the Kacchushi school from the Edo period. It features an openwork design of butterflies and snow on a round plate. The tsuba comes in a Kiri box and includes an Aoi Art estimation paper.
Certificate reading — 無銘(甲冑師)
mumei · Kacchushi · Edo


Katchushi School
Edo
Unsigned
Tokuho
Tosho-Katchushi
68 pieces on the market now
The katchūshi (甲冑師, armorers) are understood to have produced sword guards as a sideline to their primary craft of forging armor components—helmet plates, small scales (kozane), and facial defenses (menpō). Before the emergence of specialist tsuba makers in the late Muromachi period, warriors relied upon swordsmiths and allied craftsmen to furnish practical yet meaningful guards. Learn more →
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteIf you wish to return an item, please notify us within 3 days of receipt. After this period we cannot accept cancellations. Please ship the return to us within 5 business days. Cancellation is conditional on the item being kept in the same condition as at the time of sale, so please handle it with care.