This is a tsuba made by Hirata school in Higo province during the early Edo period. The tsuba features a design of circles, expressed with a unique carving technique. It has a Tokubetsu-hozon certificate by NBTHK.
mumei · Hirata · Edo

Hirata School
Edo
Higo
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Higo · Higo
11 pieces on the market now
The Hirata school encompasses two distinct but related lineages of Japanese metalworkers bearing the Hirata name, each distinguished by its founder's artistic inheritance and medium. The first is the Hirata school of Higo Province, founded by Hirata Hikozo, a craftsman of Shoami lineage who served the celebrated warrior and tea master Hosokawa Sansai. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Hikozo彦三 | — | 49 |
| Shozaburo小三郎 | — | 0 |
| Hikozo彦三 | — | 0 |
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, due to our fault, the item differs significantly from its proper condition, the item may be returned. Cooling-off is within one week of the item's arrival.
This is a tsuba made by Hirata school in Higo province during the early Edo period. The tsuba features a design of circles, expressed with a unique carving technique. It has a Tokubetsu-hozon certificate by NBTHK.
mumei · Hirata · Edo

Hirata School
Edo
Higo
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Higo · Higo
11 pieces on the market now
The Hirata school encompasses two distinct but related lineages of Japanese metalworkers bearing the Hirata name, each distinguished by its founder's artistic inheritance and medium. The first is the Hirata school of Higo Province, founded by Hirata Hikozo, a craftsman of Shoami lineage who served the celebrated warrior and tea master Hosokawa Sansai. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Hikozo彦三 | — | 49 |
| Shozaburo小三郎 | — | 0 |
| Hikozo彦三 | — | 0 |
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, due to our fault, the item differs significantly from its proper condition, the item may be returned. Cooling-off is within one week of the item's arrival.