This is a tsuba by Watanabe Omi Daijo Minamoto Masatsugu, a renowned caster who served the Tokugawa Shogunate. Born in Kyoto in 1646, he later became an official caster for the Hirosaki Domain (Tsugaru Domain) in 1679. The tsuba, likely made in Hirosaki, depicts various immortals including a gourd and a crane immortal. It is accompanied by Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu papers.
Certificate reading — 銘 渡辺近江大掾源正次作者也 阿爛陀金合口 奥州弘前ニテ
NihontoWatchBETAmei · Edo
Watanabe Omi Daijo Minamoto Masatsugu
Edo
Signed
Tokuho (NBTHK)
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 siteCooling-off available within one week after arrival, Japan domestic only. Defective items may be returned; no refund if condition differs from sale or item was used.
This is a tsuba by Watanabe Omi Daijo Minamoto Masatsugu, a renowned caster who served the Tokugawa Shogunate. Born in Kyoto in 1646, he later became an official caster for the Hirosaki Domain (Tsugaru Domain) in 1679. The tsuba, likely made in Hirosaki, depicts various immortals including a gourd and a crane immortal. It is accompanied by Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu papers.
Certificate reading — 銘 渡辺近江大掾源正次作者也 阿爛陀金合口 奥州弘前ニテ
NihontoWatchBETAmei · Edo
Watanabe Omi Daijo Minamoto Masatsugu
Edo
Signed
Tokuho (NBTHK)
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 siteCooling-off available within one week after arrival, Japan domestic only. Defective items may be returned; no refund if condition differs from sale or item was used.