Description

This tsuba, attributed to Shoami in a 1970 Tokubetsu Kicho Kodo certification, features a vertically oval shape made of suaka (unalloyed copper) with a thin, goishi-shaped construction. The surface is adorned with a fine hair-carved stone-eye pattern, giving it a calm, aged appearance. A small openwork design in the shape of a pine cone is placed next to the hitsu-ana, showcasing an elaborate design within its simplicity. The suaka ground and pine cone motif suggest a connection to Shonai Kinko work from a contemporary perspective. It is a tsuba possessing both an antique charm and refined aesthetic.