This is an exceptional iron tsuba signed by Kawaji from the Choshu school. It features a wonderfully detailed carving of a mythical Ho bird. The tsuba is in perfect condition and measures 7 x 7.2 x 0.6 cm.
NihontoWatch
Nagato
4 pieces on the market now
The highest grade for fittings, reserved for outstanding craft of extremely high value in the history of Japanese art, judged on par with a nationally designated Important Cultural Property.
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 site3-day return window from receipt.
