A tsuba attributed to the Satsuma school, designated as Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu by the NBTHK. This Edo period iron tsuba features a bridle crest (丸に十字紋) in high relief, contrasted with gold and black designs. It is believed to have originally been mounted on a Satsuma koshirae for a high-ranking Satsuma clan samurai, making the shakudo construction rare for the region.
Certificate reading — 無銘（薩摩）
NihontoWatchmumei · Edo
Satsuma School
Edo
Satsuma
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Yamato-den · Satsuma
29 pieces on the market now
The Satsuma school gathered the smiths of southern Kyushu under the patronage of the Shimazu, the daimyo house of Satsuma and Osumi, and the published sources read its history in two distinct flowerings rather than one continuous line. Its shinto fountainhead is Izu no Kami Masafusa, a son of the Mino smith Ujifusa who moved to Kagoshima and carried a strongly nie-laden hand into the province; the NBTHK names him the origin of Satsuma forging. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Yasuyo安代 | 1716-1736 | 19 |
| Motohira元平 | 1778-1789 | 38 |
| Masayuki正幸 | 1772-1817 | 27 |
| Masakiyo正清 | 1714-1736 | 25 |
| Masayoshi正良 | 1764-1786 | 10 |
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 siteCustomer-initiated returns accepted within two days of arrival; return shipping paid by customer and fees non-refundable. Returns/refunds unavailable for overseas deliveries.
A tsuba attributed to the Satsuma school, designated as Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu by the NBTHK. This Edo period iron tsuba features a bridle crest (丸に十字紋) in high relief, contrasted with gold and black designs. It is believed to have originally been mounted on a Satsuma koshirae for a high-ranking Satsuma clan samurai, making the shakudo construction rare for the region.
Certificate reading — 無銘（薩摩）
NihontoWatchmumei · Edo
Satsuma School
Edo
Satsuma
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Yamato-den · Satsuma
29 pieces on the market now
The Satsuma school gathered the smiths of southern Kyushu under the patronage of the Shimazu, the daimyo house of Satsuma and Osumi, and the published sources read its history in two distinct flowerings rather than one continuous line. Its shinto fountainhead is Izu no Kami Masafusa, a son of the Mino smith Ujifusa who moved to Kagoshima and carried a strongly nie-laden hand into the province; the NBTHK names him the origin of Satsuma forging. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Yasuyo安代 | 1716-1736 | 19 |
| Motohira元平 | 1778-1789 | 38 |
| Masayuki正幸 | 1772-1817 | 27 |
| Masakiyo正清 | 1714-1736 | 25 |
| Masayoshi正良 | 1764-1786 | 10 |
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 siteCustomer-initiated returns accepted within two days of arrival; return shipping paid by customer and fees non-refundable. Returns/refunds unavailable for overseas deliveries.
