This is a mumei (unsigned) iron tsuba from the Mid-Edo period, attributed to the Kyo Kenjo school. It features a yatsuhashi (eight-bridge) openwork design with intricate gold nunome-zogan (fabric-overlay inlay) depicting irises, inspired by the 'Eastern Journey' chapter of the Tales of Ise. The tsuba comes with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu certificate, indicating its high artistic and historical value.
mumei · Kyo Kenjo · Genroku (c. 1688)












Kyo-Kenjo School
Genroku (c. 1688)
Yamashiro
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba · Yamashiro
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 siteReturns accepted within 3 days of delivery for defective items or significant discrepancies; customer bears return shipping and bank fees.
This is a mumei (unsigned) iron tsuba from the Mid-Edo period, attributed to the Kyo Kenjo school. It features a yatsuhashi (eight-bridge) openwork design with intricate gold nunome-zogan (fabric-overlay inlay) depicting irises, inspired by the 'Eastern Journey' chapter of the Tales of Ise. The tsuba comes with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu certificate, indicating its high artistic and historical value.
mumei · Kyo Kenjo · Genroku (c. 1688)












Kyo-Kenjo School
Genroku (c. 1688)
Yamashiro
Unsigned
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba · Yamashiro
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 siteReturns accepted within 3 days of delivery for defective items or significant discrepancies; customer bears return shipping and bank fees.