This is an unsigned (mumei) tsuba attributed to the Soten school, featuring a design of Kyoyu and Sofu. It is made of iron with sukidashi takabori (relief carving) and zogan iroe (inlay with colored metals). The tsuba is certified as Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu by the NBTHK.
NihontoWatchmumei · Soten · Edo
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 site
¥800,000
