This is a mumei (unsigned) tsuba attributed to the Heianjo school, featuring a design of bellflowers (kikyo) and karakusa (arabesque) in brass inlay on an iron ground. Measuring 8.32cm in height and 8.26cm in width, it is a substantial piece suitable for a long sword or one with a wide blade. The tsuba showcases the refined and powerful techniques characteristic of Heianjo inlay work from the Edo period.
Certificate reading — 無銘(平安城象嵌)
mumei · Heianjo · Edo








Heianjo-Zogan School
Edo
Yamashiro
Unsigned
Hozon (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba
23 pieces on the market now
Heianjo zogan tsuba constitute a technique-defined regional tradition rooted in Yamashiro Province, centered on the capital city of Kyoto. The NBTHK setsumei consistently describe the tradition as one that "draws upon the lineage of Onin tsuba," though the relationship is understood as broadly contemporaneous rather than strictly sequential; the earliest Heianjo inlay works are, in terms of period, close to Onin tsuba. The tradition flourished from the closing years of the Muromachi period through the Momoyama era and into the early Edo period. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Shigemitsu重光 | — | 0 |
| Hidesada英貞 | — | 0 |
| Tadatsugu忠次 | — | 0 |
| Yoshihisa吉久 | — | 0 |
| Yoshinaga吉長 | — | 0 |
Certifies a genuine fitting worth preserving: a correct signature, or, if unsigned, an identifiable era and school, with recognized artistic and craft 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) tsuba attributed to the Heianjo school, featuring a design of bellflowers (kikyo) and karakusa (arabesque) in brass inlay on an iron ground. Measuring 8.32cm in height and 8.26cm in width, it is a substantial piece suitable for a long sword or one with a wide blade. The tsuba showcases the refined and powerful techniques characteristic of Heianjo inlay work from the Edo period.
Certificate reading — 無銘(平安城象嵌)
mumei · Heianjo · Edo








Heianjo-Zogan School
Edo
Yamashiro
Unsigned
Hozon (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba
23 pieces on the market now
Heianjo zogan tsuba constitute a technique-defined regional tradition rooted in Yamashiro Province, centered on the capital city of Kyoto. The NBTHK setsumei consistently describe the tradition as one that "draws upon the lineage of Onin tsuba," though the relationship is understood as broadly contemporaneous rather than strictly sequential; the earliest Heianjo inlay works are, in terms of period, close to Onin tsuba. The tradition flourished from the closing years of the Muromachi period through the Momoyama era and into the early Edo period. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Shigemitsu重光 | — | 0 |
| Hidesada英貞 | — | 0 |
| Tadatsugu忠次 | — | 0 |
| Yoshihisa吉久 | — | 0 |
| Yoshinaga吉長 | — | 0 |
Certifies a genuine fitting worth preserving: a correct signature, or, if unsigned, an identifiable era and school, with recognized artistic and craft 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.