This is an oval-shaped tsuba from the Momoyama to Muromachi period, made of yamagane (refined copper) with a nanako (fish-roe) ground. It features a 'Blessed fruits of the sea' design carved in sukidashi-takabori (high relief carving) and accented with gold inlay. The tsuba is unsigned (mumei) and comes with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.
Certificate reading — 無銘（古金工）
NihontoWatchBETAmumei · Ko-Kinko · Momoyama~muromachi
Ko-kinko School
Momoyama~muromachi
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Kinko
The term Ko-kinkō (古金工) denotes a collective category of metalworkers whose lineages extend from archaic times and continue through the Momoyama period, representing traditions that predate the formalized schools of the Edo period. Rather than constituting a single unified workshop, this attribution encompasses multiple regional traditions that shared certain technical and aesthetic principles while maintaining distinct local characteristics. 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 oval-shaped tsuba from the Momoyama to Muromachi period, made of yamagane (refined copper) with a nanako (fish-roe) ground. It features a 'Blessed fruits of the sea' design carved in sukidashi-takabori (high relief carving) and accented with gold inlay. The tsuba is unsigned (mumei) and comes with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.
Certificate reading — 無銘（古金工）
NihontoWatchBETAmumei · Ko-Kinko · Momoyama~muromachi
Ko-kinko School
Momoyama~muromachi
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Kinko
The term Ko-kinkō (古金工) denotes a collective category of metalworkers whose lineages extend from archaic times and continue through the Momoyama period, representing traditions that predate the formalized schools of the Edo period. Rather than constituting a single unified workshop, this attribution encompasses multiple regional traditions that shared certain technical and aesthetic principles while maintaining distinct local characteristics. 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.
